WASHINGTON, D.C., (KNOE 8 News) - Washington has announced that $12 million is being made available to various states, including Louisiana.
The purpose of the money is to allow states to build or expand databases that link workforce information with education data, the goal being to improve understanding about the performance of workforce development programs.
According to the figures released today, Louisiana would get just under a million dollars.
"The grants awarded through this initiative will result in high-quality, long term data that will provide consumers, practitioners and policymakers with comprehensive information about the relationship between education and workforce development programs," said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.
The U.S. Department of Labor anticipates awarding approximately 12 grants of up to $1 million each for a 36 month period of performance.
Grantees will be expected to achieve multiple goals during the three-year grant period. These include developing or improving state workforce longitudinal data systems with individual-level information; enabling workforce data to be matched with education data to create longitudinal data systems, consistent with all federal and state privacy laws; improving the quality and breadth of the data in the workforce data systems; using longitudinal data to provide useful information about program operations; analyzing the performance of education and employment training programs; and providing user-friendly information to consumers to help them make more informed decisions on the selection of training and education programs.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission plan:
Award Amount: $999,863
Grantee: Louisiana Workforce Commission
Proposed Activities:
Louisiana will utilize the PY2010 Workforce Data Quality Initiative as a means of improving public services through creation of the states first longitudinal database for workforce data. Grant funding will enhance and improve the states ability to plan, monitor and further research various services within the workforce and educational systems. Data sets will contain information from several programs including: Workforce Investment Act; Wagner-Peyser; Trade Adjustment Assistance; and Louisiana Job Employment Training. In addition to workforce programs, data from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Federal Employee Data Exchange System will also be linked. Merging this information with education data will provide first time access to more comprehensive programmatic data. The Louisiana Workforce Commission will rely on its longstanding partnership with Louisiana State University to create, maintain, and ensure security for this project.
