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

  • EOMC

    The Office of Equal Opportunity Monitoring and Compliance is the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) office that oversees the implementation of the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity (EO) provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

  • O*Net
    Occupational Information Network
  • Obligated Expenditures
    (See Obligation)
  • Obligation

    The Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR 200.71 states, “When used in connection with a non-Federal entity’s utilization of funds under a Federal award, obligations means orders placed for property and services, contracts, and subawards made, and similar transactions during a given period that require payment by the non-Federal entity during the same or a future period”. TEGL 28-10 states that obligations represent definite commitments which will result in future expenditures. Obligations are legal requirements – not plans, budgets or encumbrances. Some examples of obligations are open purchase orders, child care contracts, on-the-job training agreements, ITAs (for which enrollments have occurred), and subaward agreements (excluding budgeted amounts for ITAs for which enrollments have not occurred). Accrued expenditures are part of the total obligations to be reported. Encumbrances or budgeted amounts, such as projected staff time or future/projected rent payments, do not qualify as obligations.

  • Occupational Classroom Training
    Occupational training is predominantly technical training, which prepares the student for entry into a particular occupation or set of occupations. Expenditures countable for occupational training.
  • Occupational Skills Training
    Means an organized program of study that provides specific vocational skills that lead to proficiency in performing actual tasks and technical functions required by certain occupational fields at entry, intermediate, or advanced levels.
  • ODEP
    Office of Disability Employment Policy
  • OEM
    Original Equipment Manufacturer
  • OET
    Office of Employment and Training (formerly Bureau of Workforce Development (BoWD))
  • Offender

    An adult or youth (A) who is or has been subject to any stage of the criminal justice process, for whom workforce services may be beneficial; or (B) who requires assistance in overcoming artificial barriers to employment resulting from a record of arrest or conviction.

    Also referred to as Ex-Offender, Justice-Involved Individual, or Justice-Impacted Individual.

  • Office of Employment and Training
    Office of Employment and Training (formerly Bureau of Workforce Development (BoWD))
  • Office of Equal Opportunity Monitoring and Compliance

    The Office of Equal Opportunity Monitoring and Compliance is the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) office that oversees the implementation of the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity (EO) provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

  • 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.

  • Older Individual
    The term ‘‘older individual’’ means an individual age 55 or older.
  • OMB
    Office of Management and Budget
  • One or More Grade Levels Below the Grade Level Appropriate to the Individual’s Age
    Is defined based on the following relationship between age at registration and highest school grade completed: 14 (Age at registration) -- 7 (Highest grade completed is less than); 15 -- 8; 16 -- 9; 17 -- 10; 18 -- 11; and 19 -- 12.
  • One-Stop Center
    (See Illinois workNet Center.)
  • One-Stop Operator
    Means one or more entities designated or certified under section 121(d).
  • One-Stop Partner
    Any entity described at a) section 121(b)(1); or b) section 121(b)(2) that is participating, with the approval of the local board and chief elected official, in the operation of a one-stop delivery system. WIOA specifies sixteen (16) required program partners to deliver career services, employment and training services through the one-stop delivery system and in the one-stop centers. All required partners must make career services applicable to the partner’s programs available to participants through the One-Stop delivery system. All required partners must contribute funds to maintain the one-stop delivery system. Each partner is required to pay a capped share of the infrastructure costs for the comprehensive one-stop centers. The required partners must also enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Local Board relating to the operation and funding of the One-Stop system that meets the requirements of WIOA and participate in the operation of the One-Stop system consistent with the terms of the MOU and requirements of authorizing laws.
  • One-Stop Partner Program
    Means a program or activities described in section 121(b) of a one-stop partner.
  • One-Stop System
    The network of workforce products and services that meets business and jobseeker needs in whatever manner and location is most effective and convenient for the customer. Customers can choose to use the system's products and services in different ways. They may call a toll-free number or connect through a personal computer at home or in a neighborhood library. They may receive individualized assistance in a community-based agency, an educational institution, or a one-stop career center.
  • ONET
    Occupational Information Network
  • On-the-Job Training

    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.

  • Opportunity Youth

    Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are disconnected from school and work.

  • Optimum Policy Making (or Hiring) Authority
    An individual who can reasonably be expected to speak affirmatively on behalf of the entity he or she represents and to commit that entity to a chosen course of action. Business members of a State or local board may also have hiring authority.
  • OSERS
    Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services
  • OSY

    Out-of-School Youth means an individual who is— (i) not attending any school (as defined under State law); (ii) not younger than age 16 or older than age 24; and (iii) one or more of the following: (I) A school dropout. (II) A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter. (III) A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low-income individual and is—(aa) basic skills deficient; or (bb) an English language learner. (IV) An individual who is subject to the juvenile or adult justice system. (V) 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. (VI) An individual who is pregnant or parenting. (VII) A youth who is an individual with a disability. (VIII) A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

  • Other Sites

    1. In addition to the three types of designated centers and access sites that may be included in the local one-stop delivery system, WIOA customers may also avail themselves of other workforce, education, training, and support services in their areas. 

    2. Because these “other sites” do not offer services, programs, or activities by a WIOA partner agency or receive WIOA funding, they may not display signage identifying the site as part of the Illinois workNet or American Job Center network. 

    3. Other sites do not need to be included in operating costs in the MOU nor do they need to go through the certification process.

  • Out-of-School Youth

    Out-of-School Youth means an individual who is— (i) not attending any school (as defined under State law); (ii) not younger than age 16 or older than age 24; and (iii) one or more of the following: (I) A school dropout. (II) A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter. (III) A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low-income individual and is—(aa) basic skills deficient; or (bb) an English language learner. (IV) An individual who is subject to the juvenile or adult justice system. (V) 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. (VI) An individual who is pregnant or parenting. (VII) A youth who is an individual with a disability. (VIII) A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

  • Outreach
    An effort by staff and/or management of the one-stop system to encourage individuals and businesses in the service delivery area to use the services, programs and activities of the one-stop system.
  • Overall State Indicator Score

    The average of the individual indicator scores for a single performance indicator across WIOA core programs.

  • Overall State Program Score

    The average of the individual indicator scores for a single WIOA core program across performance indicators.