Glossary

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

  • ADA
    Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990​ Public Law 101-336 gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.
  • ASE-GED, HSCR

    Programs that serve adults who have not completed a high school credential.  

  • CIP

    ​The purpose of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) is to provide a taxonomic scheme that will support the accurate tracking, assessment, and reporting of fields of study and program completions activity. Visit the CIP website to learn more. Citation

  • COBRA
    This law amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code, and the Public Health Service Act to require most group health plans to provide a temporary continuation on group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated. (An Employee's Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA, U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, September 2006, p. Citation
  • DCEO
    The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is the lead state agency responsible for improving the competitiveness of Illinois in the global economy resulting in growing, prosperous industries, high quality jobs, and world-class communities. 
  • ESL

    ESL classes are for students who want to improve their English language skills. Classes include Basic English skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Classes may also include family literacy, citizenship, and civics

  • GED

    ​GED stands for General Educational Development. This is a nationally recognized high school equivalency program. Adult learning providers offer classes for students who want to take the GED test.

    People take the GED test for many reasons. Some people want to enroll in college, while others want to enter a training or technical program; some take it for work-related or personal goals.

  • ICAPS

    An Accelerating Opportunities Initiative, seeks to address the needs of the adults in our community who are in need of a high school diploma. Recognizing that by 2018, two-thirds of the job opportunities will require some level of postsecondary education, it seeks to provide an opportunity for skill attainment. The ICAPS program includes dual enrollment in Adult Education and Career and Technical Education courses, leading to completion of the high school equivalency (GED), an institutional certificate, and at least one industry certification. Each program includes a pathway for students to continue their education, leading to a degree. In addition to the unique programming offerings, intense support services are offered to ensure students have the tools needed to complete their studies and be successful in the workforce. A career navigator works with each student, assisting the student with any obstacles that arise.  ​

  • ICCB
    Administers the Public Community College Act and promotes high-quality, accessible, cost-effective educational opportunities for the individual and the community. Citation
  • IEP
    A written plan designed to help develop specific educational goals for the child with disabilities. It identifies the disability; describes the child's strengths and areas of need; lists goals that the child should reach in a year's time; includes short-term instructional objectives that represent a series of kills to master or goals to accomplish; and, identifies programs and services, including regular education, that the child will receive. The IEP is reviewed each year. From age 14 on, the IEP will also address transition needs and services.
  • IRWE
    Impairment-Related Work Expenses are deducted from the net earned income for any individuals in SSI/SSDI program – with regards to the disability calculator.
  • 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.

  • JVA
    Public Law 107-288 (2002). Section 2(a) of the JVA, codified at 38 U.S.C. 4215(a), provides priority of service for covered persons.
  • LIHEAP
    Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps pay the winter heating bills or summer cooling bills of low-income and elderly people. Citation
  • MSA
    County or group of counties that has at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties. Citation
  • NAICS
    The standard used by federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy. Citation
  • OJT

    On-the-Job Training provides reimbursements to employers to help compensate for the costs associated with skills upgrade training for newly hired employees and the lost production of current employees providing the training (including management staff). OJT training can assist employers who are looking to expand their businesses and who need additional staff trained with specialized skills. OJT employers may receive up to 50% reimbursement of the wage rate (in certain circumstances up to 75%) of OJT trainees to help defray personnel training costs. Under some programs, such as those funded by H-1B fees, OJT reimbursement may be as high as 90%, depending on employer size.

  • OSHA
    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislation. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. Citation
  • PABSS

    Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security Program (PABSS): The Social Security Administration, as authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, awarded Work Assistance Program grants to the designated Protection and Advocacy (PA) system in each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the PA system for Native Americans. SSA's PA Program, known as Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), was created to serve SSDI and SSI beneficiaries who want to work despite their continuing disabilities. PABSS grantees will:

    • Assist beneficiaries with disabilities in obtaining information and advice about receiving vocational rehabilitation and employment services; and 
    • Provide advocacy or other related services that beneficiaries with disabilities may need to secure or regain gainful employment.
  • PASS
    A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provision to help individuals with disabilities return to work. PASS lets disabled individuals set aside money and/or items they own to pay for items or services needed to achieve a specific work goal. Click here to learn more.
  • RSS
    A format for delivering regularly-changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to anyone who wants it.
  • SNAP
    The Food Stamp Program was designed to help end hunger and improve nutrition and health. It helps low-income households buy the food they need for a nutritionally adequate diet. Citation
  • SOC
    Occupational classification system used by statistical agencies to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, and disseminating data.
  • STAR

    ​Through the use of new evidence-based reading strategies, many adult education learners are being able to finally experience the joy of reading for the first time in their lives.

  • TABE

    ​The TABE (Test for Adult Basic Education) is used to find your strengths. The information collected will be used to set up a program of study to help you progress. Your skills may help you complete a program that was set up by a Workforce Professional. The TABE has three major areas: reading, language, and math. These tests use multiple-choice questions. There are no short answers. There are no writing questions. You cannot fail the TABE.

  • TANF
    "The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program provides temporary financial assistance for pregnant women and families with one or more dependent children. TANF provides financial assistance to help pay for food, shelter, utilities, and expenses other than medical." Citation
  • TTY
    Tele-Typewriter/Text Telephone -Machinery or equipment that employs interactive text based communications through the transmission of coded signals across the standard telephone network. Text telephones can include, for example, devices known as TDDs (telecommunication display devices or telecommunication devices for deaf persons) or computers with special modems. Text telephones are also called TTYs, an abbreviation for tele-typewriter.
  • WWW
    A collection of Internet resources, hyperlinked text, audio and video files, and remote sites that can be accessed and searched by browsers based on standards such as HTTP and TCP/IP.