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

  • IATP

    The Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) is the non-profit organization designated as the Statewide AT Program funded under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended. IATP’s lead agency is the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services.

  • IBHE
    Illinois Board of Higher Education
  • IBIS

    Illinois Benefit Information System

  • ICAPS

    A quality instructional framework in Illinois for the implementation of Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs, as defined by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). ICAPS provides an accelerated pathway to an industry-recognized credential through training partnerships—such as Career and Technical Education or an approved training provider—to serve adult education students, including English language learners, at the same time that they are completing their Illinois high school diploma and/or improving their English language. Instruction and training are supplemented by support courses, comprehensive student support services, and augmented by collaborative teaching practices between workforce training instructors and basic skills instructors.

  • ICCB
    Illinois Community College Board
  • IDES
    Illinois Department of Employment Security
  • IDHHC

    The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission is an executive state agency that promotes education and awareness of the legal requirements for effective communication on behalf of people with hearing loss in Illinois. IDHHC is governed by eleven (11) Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor's office. At least six (6) of the Commissioners must be deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind. The Commissioners meet on a quarterly basis at the IDHHC office in Springfield, Illinois.

  • IEBS
    Illinois Employment Business System
  • IELCE

    Education services provided to English language learners who are adults, including professionals with degrees and credentials in their native countries that enable such adults to achieve competency in the English language and acquire the basic and more advanced skills needed to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States. IELCE services shall include instruction in literacy and English language acquisition and instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation and may include workforce training.

  • IEN
    Illinois Entrepreneurship Network
  • IEP

    An Individual Employment Plan is a plan developed by the participant and the career planner to identify the participant's employment goals, the appropriate achievement objectives, and the appropriate combination of services for the participant to achieve the employment goals, including providing information on eligible providers of training services and career pathways to attain career objectives.

  • IESBGA
    Illinois Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth Association
  • IJL
    Illinois Job Link
  • Illinois Assistive Technology Program

    The Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) is the non-profit organization designated as the Statewide AT Program funded under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended. IATP’s lead agency is the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services.

  • Illinois Benefit Information System

    Illinois Benefit Information System

  • Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission

    The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission is an executive state agency that promotes education and awareness of the legal requirements for effective communication on behalf of people with hearing loss in Illinois. IDHHC is governed by eleven (11) Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor's office. At least six (6) of the Commissioners must be deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind. The Commissioners meet on a quarterly basis at the IDHHC office in Springfield, Illinois.

  • Illinois Workforce Development Board
    See Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB)
  • Illinois Workforce Development System
    The Illinois Workforce Development System (IWDS) is the internet-based management information system used to collect information about the customers who have been and are being served by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA) programs. This information is reported to the U.S. Department of Labor on a quarterly or annual basis depending on the program and is also used by OET and the Local Workforce Innovation Areas (LWIAs) to manage the WIOA and TAA programs.
  • Illinois Workforce Innovation Board
    The Governor-appointed Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB) includes leaders from state, business, industry, labor, education and community-based organizations with the goal of evaluating and meeting the workforce needs of Illinois' employers and workers.

    Through a committee and task force structure, representatives from private/public partner programs present the IWIB with policy recommendations on strengthening Illinois' workforce system. All policies developed or commented upon through the IWIB structure include input from the public and partners.
  • Illinois workNet Centers

    An Illinois workNet Center is a facility (as described in Section 121(e)(2)) where the six core programs (Title I adult, dislocated worker, and youth programs; Title II adult education and literacy programs; Title III Wagner-Peyser program; and Title IV vocational rehabilitation program), as well as other required and optional partners identified in WIOA provide access to information and services, along with service providers, to job seekers and businesses.

  • Illinois workNet Visitor
    A participant who accesses the Illinois workNet at a resource room location (One-Stop Career Center or affiliate).
  • In Training, Ceased Participation
    Customer enrolled in training, but without justifiable cause, dropped out of all classes or enrollment status changed to less than full time as defined by the training institution.
  • In Training, No Verification of Attendance
    Customer is in training, but did not provide verification of satisfactory attendance.
  • Incumbent Worker

    An Incumbent Worker is an individual (or group of individuals) with an employment relationship with a participating employer or group of participating employers in a targeted industry (as cited in the local plan); and an individual who is receiving upgraded skills training:

    1. to increase his or her skills in an occupation in which the individual is already an incumbent; or
    2. to prepare the worker for entry into a new occupation within the targeted workforce (i.e., the workforce of the participating employer or group of employers).
  • Incumbent Worker Training

    Incumbent Worker Training is designed to meet the needs of an employer or group of employers to retain a skilled workforce or avert layoffs. Incumbent Worker training can be used to either:

    • Help avert potential layoffs of employees; or
    • Obtain the skills necessary to retain employment, such as increasing the skill levels of employees so they can be promoted within the company and create backfill opportunities for new or less-skilled employees.

    Unlike other trainings, employers, instead of individuals, must meet the local eligibility criteria to receive funds for training their workforce. In most circumstances, incumbent workers being trained must have been employed with the company for at least six months. Employers who receive these funds are required to meet requirements for providing the non-federal share of the cost of the training.

  • In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation
    Means—
    (A) In General.—The term ‘‘in-demand industry sector or occupation’’ means— (i) an industry sector that has a substantial current or potential impact (including through jobs that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) on the State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate, and that contributes to the growth or stability of other supporting businesses, or the growth of other industry sectors; or (ii) an occupation that currently has or is projected to have a number of positions (including positions that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) in an industry sector so as to have a significant impact on the State, regional, or local economy, as appropriate.
    (B) Determination.—The determination of whether an industry sector or occupation is in-demand under this paragraph shall be made by the State board or local board, as appropriate, using State and regional business and labor market projections, including the use of labor market information.
  • Individual Employment Plan

    An Individual Employment Plan is a plan developed by the participant and the career planner to identify the participant's employment goals, the appropriate achievement objectives, and the appropriate combination of services for the participant to achieve the employment goals, including providing information on eligible providers of training services and career pathways to attain career objectives.

  • Individual from a Qualified Census Tract or a Disproportionately Impacted Area

    An individual who resides in a Qualified Census Tract or a Disproportionately Impacted Area.

  • Individual Indicator Score

    The proportion the actual level of performance represents of the adjusted level of performance for a single performance indicator for a single program. It is calculated by dividing the actual level of performance achieved by the adjusted level of performance.

  • Individual of Limited English Proficiency

    An adult or out-of-school youth who has limited ability in speaking, reading, writing or understanding the English language, and a) whose native language is a language other than English; or b) who lives in a family or community environment where a language other than English is the dominant language.

  • Individual Service Strategy

    An Individual Service Strategy is an agreement of skills and goals decided between a WIOA Youth participant and WIOA Youth staff counselor (usually a career planner), that sets out a plan for the participant to make progress towards his/her educational and employment goals.

  • Individual Training Account

    An Individual Training Account is a financial subsidy to enable customers that qualify for training to access the program of their choice on the statewide list of eligible providers. An ITA is most often in the form of a voucher, which is a document that can be redeemed for training.

  • Individual With a Barrier to Employment
    The term ‘‘individual with a barrier to employment’’ means a customer with 1 or more barriers to employment.
  • Individual with a Disability
    An individual with any disability (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)).
  • Individualized Career Services

    Individualized career services must be provided to participants after American Job Center staff determines that such services are required to retain or obtain employment, consistent with any applicable statutory priorities.  Generally, these services involve significant staff time and customization to each individual’s need.  Individualized career services include services such as: specialized assessments, developing an individual employment plan, counseling, work experiences (including transitional jobs), etc.

    Local Workforce Innovation Boards (LWIBs) must identify the assessments to be used to determine eligibility and ensure eligibility determination procedures are consistent with state policies.  American Job Center staff may use recent previous interviews, evaluations, or assessments by partner programs to determine if individualized career services would be appropriate.  These services generally will be provided by the Adult and Dislocated Worker programs, although it may be appropriate for the Employment Service to provide some of these services.

  • Industry Credential

    A work-related credential, certification, or license that:

    1. Verifies, through a valid assessment, an individual’s qualifications or competence in a specific skill set related to a particular industry or occupation;
    2. Is issued by an industry-related organization or state licensing body with the relevant authority to issue such credentials; and
    3. Is broadly sought or accepted by employers as a recognized, preferred, or required credential for recruitment, screening, hiring, retention, or advancement purposes.
    NOTE

    This definition was developed during the initial drafting of the Career Pathways Dictionary and ISBE’s College and Career Readiness Indicator. It is based on research into statewide and national conceptions of industry credentials.

  • Industry or Sector Partnership
    The term ‘‘industry or sector partnership’’ means a workforce collaborative, convened by or acting in partnership with a State board or local board, that—(A) organizes key stakeholders in an industry cluster into a working group that focuses on the shared goals and human resources needs of the industry cluster and that includes, at the appropriate stage of development of the partnership— (i) representatives of multiple businesses or other employers in the industry cluster, including small and medium-sized employers when practicable; (ii) 1 or more representatives of a recognized State labor organization or central labor council, or another labor representative, as appropriate; and (iii) 1 or more representatives of an institution of higher education with, or another provider of, education or training programs that support the industry cluster; and (B) may include representatives of— (i) State or local government; (ii) State or local economic development agencies; (iii) State boards or local boards, as appropriate; (iv) a State workforce agency or other entity providing employment services; (v) other State or local agencies; (vi) business or trade associations; (vii) economic development organizations; (viii) nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, or intermediaries; (ix) philanthropic organizations; (x) industry associations; and (xi) other organizations, as determined to be necessary by the members comprising the industry or sector partnership.
  • Information Technology Systems

    Means computing devices, ancillary equipment, software, firmware, and similar procedures, services (including support services), and related resources.  (See Computing Devices, Equipment, and Supplies).  Computer software and licenses are considered to be information technology systems.

  • Informational Activities
    Includes both self-service and staff-assisted core services that are designed to inform and educate a participant about the labor market and to enable a participant to identify his or her individual employment strengths, weaknesses, and the range of services appropriate for the individual. The exception is core services that require significant staff involvement.
  • In-School Youth

    In-School Youth means an individual who is—

    (i) attending school (as defined by State law);

    (ii) not younger than age 14 or (unless an individual with a disability who is attending school under State law) older than age 21;

    (iii) a low-income individual; and

    (iv) one or more of the following: (I) Basic skills deficient. (II) An English language learner. (III) An offender. (IV) A homeless individual (as defined in section 41403(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043e–2(6))), a homeless child or youth (as defined in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2))), a runaway, in foster care or has aged out of the foster care system, a child eligible for assistance under section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677), or in an out-of- home placement. (V) Pregnant or parenting. (VI) A youth who is an individual with a disability. (VII) An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

  • Institution of Higher Education
    The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the meaning given the term in section 101, and subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 102(a)(1), of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002(a)(1)).
  • Intake
    A process for screening individual applicants for eligibility for services; making a determination whether the program can benefit the applicants; providing information about the program, its services and the availability of those services; and selecting individual applicants for participation in the program.
  • Integrated Career and Academic Preparation System (ICAPS)

    A quality instructional framework in Illinois for the implementation of Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs, as defined by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). ICAPS provides an accelerated pathway to an industry-recognized credential through training partnerships—such as Career and Technical Education or an approved training provider—to serve adult education students, including English language learners, at the same time that they are completing their Illinois high school diploma and/or improving their English language. Instruction and training are supplemented by support courses, comprehensive student support services, and augmented by collaborative teaching practices between workforce training instructors and basic skills instructors.

  • Integrated English Literacy Civics Education (IELCE)

    Education services provided to English language learners who are adults, including professionals with degrees and credentials in their native countries that enable such adults to achieve competency in the English language and acquire the basic and more advanced skills needed to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States. IELCE services shall include instruction in literacy and English language acquisition and instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation and may include workforce training.

  • Intensive Career Exploration Experience

    A structured, multi-day student experience, such as a career exploration camp, that provides students with the opportunity to explore various occupations relating to an Illinois College and Career Pathway Endorsement area with hands-on training and orientation activities.

  • Internships
    A work experience or internship is a planned, structured learning experience that takes place in a workplace for a limited period of time. Work experiences or internships may be paid or unpaid, as appropriate and consistent with other laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act. A work experience or internship may be arranged within the private for-profit sector, the non-profit sector, or the public sector.
    For youth, work experiences may also include:
    • Pre-apprenticeship programs;
    • Summer employment and other employment activities available throughout the school year;
    • Internships and job shadowing; and
    • On-the-job training (OJT)
  • IRAP

    Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program

  • ISS

    An Individual Service Strategy is an agreement of skills and goals decided between a WIOA Youth participant and WIOA Youth staff counselor (usually a career planner), that sets out a plan for the participant to make progress towards his/her educational and employment goals.

  • ISTEP
    Illinois Support Training and Employment Program
  • ISY

    In-School Youth means an individual who is—

    (i) attending school (as defined by State law);

    (ii) not younger than age 14 or (unless an individual with a disability who is attending school under State law) older than age 21;

    (iii) a low-income individual; and

    (iv) one or more of the following: (I) Basic skills deficient. (II) An English language learner. (III) An offender. (IV) A homeless individual (as defined in section 41403(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043e–2(6))), a homeless child or youth (as defined in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2))), a runaway, in foster care or has aged out of the foster care system, a child eligible for assistance under section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677), or in an out-of- home placement. (V) Pregnant or parenting. (VI) A youth who is an individual with a disability. (VII) An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

  • ITA

    An Individual Training Account is a financial subsidy to enable customers that qualify for training to access the program of their choice on the statewide list of eligible providers. An ITA is most often in the form of a voucher, which is a document that can be redeemed for training.

  • IW

    An Incumbent Worker is an individual (or group of individuals) with an employment relationship with a participating employer or group of participating employers in a targeted industry (as cited in the local plan); and an individual who is receiving upgraded skills training:

    1. to increase his or her skills in an occupation in which the individual is already an incumbent; or
    2. to prepare the worker for entry into a new occupation within the targeted workforce (i.e., the workforce of the participating employer or group of employers).
  • IWC

    An Illinois workNet Center is a facility (as described in Section 121(e)(2)) where the six core programs (Title I adult, dislocated worker, and youth programs; Title II adult education and literacy programs; Title III Wagner-Peyser program; and Title IV vocational rehabilitation program), as well as other required and optional partners identified in WIOA provide access to information and services, along with service providers, to job seekers and businesses.

  • IWDB
    See Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB)
  • IWDS
    The Illinois Workforce Development System (IWDS) is the internet-based management information system used to collect information about the customers who have been and are being served by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA) programs. This information is reported to the U.S. Department of Labor on a quarterly or annual basis depending on the program and is also used by OET and the Local Workforce Innovation Areas (LWIAs) to manage the WIOA and TAA programs.
  • IWIB
    The Governor-appointed Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB) includes leaders from state, business, industry, labor, education and community-based organizations with the goal of evaluating and meeting the workforce needs of Illinois' employers and workers.

    Through a committee and task force structure, representatives from private/public partner programs present the IWIB with policy recommendations on strengthening Illinois' workforce system. All policies developed or commented upon through the IWIB structure include input from the public and partners.
  • IWP
    Illinois Workforce Partnership
  • IWT

    Incumbent Worker Training is designed to meet the needs of an employer or group of employers to retain a skilled workforce or avert layoffs. Incumbent Worker training can be used to either:

    • Help avert potential layoffs of employees; or
    • Obtain the skills necessary to retain employment, such as increasing the skill levels of employees so they can be promoted within the company and create backfill opportunities for new or less-skilled employees.

    Unlike other trainings, employers, instead of individuals, must meet the local eligibility criteria to receive funds for training their workforce. In most circumstances, incumbent workers being trained must have been employed with the company for at least six months. Employers who receive these funds are required to meet requirements for providing the non-federal share of the cost of the training.

  • IWTS
    Incumbent Worker Tracking System