[SE-Dir] Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

[SANDBERG Ruby]

The message below is being sent to you on behalf of:


Sarah Drinkwater, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent
Office of Learning/Student Services
______________________________________________
January 23, 2015


RE: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)


On July 22, 2014, President Barack Obama signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) into law. The passage of this act is the first reform of the public workforce system in more than 15 years and it updates and modernizes many youth programs. WIOA also strengthens the collaboration between schools and Vocational Rehabilitation to better serve youth with disabilities.

In anticipation of the impact WIOA will have on the provision of services to school age youth, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and the Department of Education (ODE) have begun to work together on clarifying the roles and responsibilities for local VR and Local Education Agency's  (LEA's) under WIOA. Local VR and LEA's will be jointly responsible for implementing the services identified under WIOA with guidance from the state. In the coming year VR and ODE will provide collaborative trainings to ensure that local VR and LEA's are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities provided by WIOA to achieve the highest outcomes for students with disabilities in Oregon.

It is important to understand that proposed federal regulation and guidance for the implementation of WIOA are expected to be early in 2015. Following the publication there will be a public comment period followed by formal adoption of the rules and full implementation will not occur until early 2016.

We know that there is a great deal of information and misinformation about the impact of WIOA out in the field and people are wondering what it means for their program. We want to reassure you that VR and ODE will be providing guidance and support as WIOA regulations become formalized over the next year and we will be providing regular updates as new information becomes available.

If you have specific questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.  More information about WIOA can be found here: http://www.doleta.gov/wioa/

Sincerely,


Keith Ozols, YTP Statewide Coordinator           Sally Simich, Secondary Transition
Vocational Rehabilitation                                  Oregon Department of Education
keith.s.ozols at state.or.us<mailto:keith.s.ozols at state.or.us>                                 sally.simich at state.or.us<mailto:sally.simich at state.or.us>
503-945-5679                                                 503-947-5639



Ruby Sandberg, Executive Assistant
Oregon Department of Education
Office of Learning l Student Services
503-947-5738 l FAX: 503-378-5156 l ruby.sandberg at state.or.us<mailto:ruby.sandberg at state.or.us>

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