Glossary

All A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Acronyms

  • 1A
    Adult Program
  • AAE
    Adult Average Earnings
  • ABE

    Adult Basic Education is education for adults whose inability to read, write or speak English or to effectively use mathematics is a barrier to their ability to get or keep employment. ABE is designed to improve their ability to benefit from training and improve their opportunities for employment and to meet adult responsibilities.

  • Academic Remediation

    (See Remedial Training)

  • Access
    With regard to a specific set of services provided by required program partners under WIOA that must be made available in comprehensive one-stop centers, means (1) program staff physically present at the location; (2) staff physically present at the one-stop from any partner program appropriately trained to provide information to customers about the programs, services, and activities available through partner programs, such as the types of services that program provides and whether the services might meet the individual’s needs; or (3) providing direct linkage through technology (i.e., through phone or real-time Web-based communication) to someone who can either provide the program services, or provide information such as how to apply for the program, or how to begin receiving services.
  • Access Sites

    1. LWIBs, in consultation with the WIOA partner agencies, may determine that their local one-stop network includes additional sites that provide access to one or more partner services, but are not designated as a center. These “access sites” must link, physically or technologically, to the comprehensive one-stop center and any appropriate affiliate one-stop centers.

    2. This linkage may occur, for example, through referral processes to these centers and partner programs located in them.

    3. Access Sites provide customers with information on the availability of career services and other program services and activities, regardless of where they initially enter the public workforce system in the local area.

    4. Access Sites providing services by WIOA partner program staff must display appropriate signage identifying the site as part of the Illinois workNet and American Job Center networks. WIOA regulations require the common identifier or tagline be used on "all products, programs, activities, services, electronic resources, facilities, and related property and new materials used in the one-stop delivery system," which includes signage and materials printed, purchased, or created by the one-stop delivery system (20 CFR 678.900(c)). Resource room materials distributed to customers not printed, purchased, or created by the one-stop delivery system do not need to contain the common identifier or the tagline.

    5. Access Sites that are part of the one-stop delivery system do not need to be included in operating costs in the MOU nor do they need to go through the certification process (20 CFR 678.800).

  • Accreditation

    Notation by a recognized authority regarding the quality of training offered by educational institutions and programs. Institutional accreditation normally applies to an entire institution, indicating that each of its parts is contributing to the achievement of an institution’s objectives, although not necessarily all on the same level of quality. Accrediting agencies and associations are nationally recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. For Illinois, the regional accrediting association is the North Central Association. Specialized accreditation normally applies to evaluation of programs, departments, or schools that usually are part of a total collegiate or other postsecondary institutions.

  • Accrued Expenditures
    The charges incurred by the grantee during a given period requiring the provision of funds for: a) goods and other tangible property received; b) services performed by employees, contractors, subgrantees, subcontractors, and other payees; and c) other amounts becoming owed (by the grantee) under programs for which no current services or performance is required, such as annuities, insurance claims, and other benefit payments [29 CFR 97.3].
  • ACME
    Automation of Compliance Monitoring Events
  • Acquisition Cost

    Acquisition cost means the cost of the asset including the cost to ready the asset for its intended use. Acquisition cost for equipment, for example, means the net invoice price of the equipment, including the cost of any modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus necessary to make it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired. Acquisition costs for software includes those development costs capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective in transit insurance, freight, and installation may be included in or excluded from the acquisition cost in accordance with the non-Federal entity's regular accounting practices.

  • Actual Level of Performance

    The outcome reported by a state  for each primary indicator of performance for each core program (section 116(d)(2) of WIOA). Actual levels of performance will be compared to the adjusted levels of performance at the close of the program year to determine the state’s performance success or failure.

  • ADA

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government’ programs and services. As it relates to employment, Title I of the ADA protects the rights of both employees and job seekers. The ADA also establishes requirements for telecommunications relay services. Title IV, which is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), also requires closed captioning of federally funded public service announcements.

  • ADC

    Attainment of a Degree or Certificate (for Youth)

  • Adjusted Levels of Performance

    The levels of performance determined by adjusting the negotiated levels of performance at the end of the program year to reflect actual characteristics of participants served and the actual economic conditions experienced using the statistical adjustment model (WIOA section 116(b)(3)(A)(vii)).

  • Adjustment Factor

    A positive or negative difference that will be added to the negotiated level of performance to determine the adjusted level of performance. The adjustment factor is the difference between the estimated levels of performance predicted by the statistical adjustment model prior to the start of the program year and the levels of performance re-estimated by the statistical adjustment model after the close of the program year. This calculation will yield a positive or negative difference, which will be used as the adjustment factor for the program year.

  • Administrative Costs
    Means expenditures incurred by State boards and local boards, direct recipients (including State grant recipients under subtitle B of title I and recipients of awards under subtitles C and D of title I), local grant recipients, local fiscal agents or local grant subrecipients, and one-stop operators in the performance of administrative functions and in carrying out activities under title I that are not related to the direct provision of workforce investment services (including services to participants and employers). Such costs include both personnel and non-personnel costs and both direct and indirect costs.
  • ADR

    Alternative Dispute Resolution consists of a variety of approaches and techniques for dispute resolution that include coaching, facilitation, mediation, and arbitration.  Each ADR technique provides an opportunity to discuss and consider possible solutions with the assistance of a neutral third party.

  • Adult

    An individual who is age 18 or older. (Except as outlined in section 132 of the Act.)

  • Adult Basic Education

    Adult Basic Education is education for adults whose inability to read, write or speak English or to effectively use mathematics is a barrier to their ability to get or keep employment. ABE is designed to improve their ability to benefit from training and improve their opportunities for employment and to meet adult responsibilities.

  • Adult Education
    Means academic instruction and education services below the postsecondary level that increase an individual’s ability to—
    (A) read, write, and speak in English and perform mathematics or other activities necessary for the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent;
    (B) transition to postsecondary education and training; and
    (C) obtain employment.
  • Adult Education and Literacy Activities
    Means programs, activities, and services that include adult education, literacy, workplace adult education and literacy activities, family literacy activities, English language acquisition activities, integrated English literacy and civics education, workforce preparation activities, or integrated education and training.
  • Adult Education Bridge Programs

    Programs that prepare adults with limited academic or limited English skills to enter and succeed in credit-bearing postsecondary education and training leading to career-path employment in high-demand, middle- and high-skilled occupations. The goal of bridge programs is to sequentially bridge the gap between the initial skills of individuals and what they need to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and career-path employment.

    The following definition outlines the key components of bridge programs in Illinois. This definition provides a foundation for bridge program design in Illinois.

    Core Elements

    Adult education bridge programs assist students in obtaining the necessary academic, employability, and technical skills through three required components: contextualized instruction, career development, and support services. Required elements include:

    • Contextualized instruction that integrates basic reading, math, and language skills and industry/ occupation knowledge.
    • Career development that includes career exploration, career planning within a career area, and understanding the world of work (specific elements depend upon the level of the bridge program and on whether participants are already incumbent workers in the specific field).
    • Transition services that provide students with the information and assistance they need to successfully navigate the process of moving from adult education or remedial coursework to credit or occupational programs. Services may include (as needed and available): academic advising, tutoring, study skills, coaching, and referrals to individual support services, e.g., transportation and childcare.
  • Adult Secondary Education Skills
    Education for adults consisting of courses in mathematics, reading, history, science, government, language arts, and other courses and classes that lead to a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Development (GED) Certificate.
  • AEER
    Adult Entered Employment Rate
  • AEFLA
    Adult Education and Family Literacy Act
  • AERR
    Adult Employment Retention Rate
  • Affiliate Centers

    1. LWIBs, in consultation with their agency partners and one-stop operator(s), also may choose to designate affiliate centers (20 CFR 678.310, 34 CFR 361.310, and 34 CFR 463.310) as part of their one-stop system.

    2. Affiliate centers make available to job seeker and employer customers one or more of the one-stop partners’ programs, services, and activities. (20 CFR 678.310, 34 CFR 361.310, and 34 CFR 463.310).

    a. The exception to this are Wagner-Peyser employment services provided by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, which may not serve as a stand-alone affiliate center and must be co-located with at least one or more other partners with the physical presence of combined staff more than 50 percent of the time the center is open.

    b. Local veterans’ employment, disabled veterans’ outreach, or unemployment compensation programs may not count toward the combined staff presence calculation (20 CFR 678.315).

    3. The frequency of program staff’s physical presence in the affiliated site must be established through partner MOU negotiations at the local level, within the parameters of the federal regulations at 20 CFR 678.310 through 678.320, 34 CFR 361.310 through 361.320, and 34 CFR 463.310 through 463.320.

  • Affiliated Site
    Means a location that makes available one or more of the required or optional programs, services, and activities to individuals.
  • AJC

    The WIOA final regulations promote increased public identification of the one-stop delivery system (Illinois workNet® system in Illinois) through the use of a common identifier across the nation. “American Job Center” is designated as the common identifier for the one-stop delivery system. This was a process started under WIA, and many one-stop centers are already incorporating use of either the ‘‘American Job Center’’ title or the associated tag line ‘‘proud partner of the American Job Center network’’ into their branding.

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

    Alternative Dispute Resolution consists of a variety of approaches and techniques for dispute resolution that include coaching, facilitation, mediation, and arbitration.  Each ADR technique provides an opportunity to discuss and consider possible solutions with the assistance of a neutral third party.

  • American Job Center

    The WIOA final regulations promote increased public identification of the one-stop delivery system (Illinois workNet® system in Illinois) through the use of a common identifier across the nation. “American Job Center” is designated as the common identifier for the one-stop delivery system. This was a process started under WIA, and many one-stop centers are already incorporating use of either the ‘‘American Job Center’’ title or the associated tag line ‘‘proud partner of the American Job Center network’’ into their branding.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government’ programs and services. As it relates to employment, Title I of the ADA protects the rights of both employees and job seekers. The ADA also establishes requirements for telecommunications relay services. Title IV, which is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), also requires closed captioning of federally funded public service announcements.

  • Appeal
    A request for a hearing to reconsider a state agency’s decision about an individual’s unemployment insurance benefits.
  • Apprenticeship Models

    An employer-driven, “learn while you earn” model that combines structured on-the-job training (OJT) with job-related instruction in curricula tied to the attainment of industry-recognized skills standards and leading to an industry credential. The OJT is provided by the employer, who hires the apprentice at the commencement of the program and pays the participant during the program.

  • Apprenticeship Training
    A program combining on-the-job training with related instruction that enables workers to master the practical and technical skills required for a skilled occupation.
  • ARRA
    American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
  • Articulated Credit

    Provided when an individual college retroactively assigns credit for high school coursework upon matriculation. Programs align secondary and postsecondary courses in order to allow students who successfully complete selected high school courses to become eligible to apply for credit in the corresponding college course in the future.

  • ASN
    Alternative Schools Network
  • ATAA
    Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance for Older Workers
  • Attainment of a Degree or Certificate

    Attainment of a Degree or Certificate (for Youth)