This guidance notice is intended to encourage the effective use of assessment instruments within the workforce investment system to promote efficient investment in talent development that will drive regional economic competitiveness; provide guidance to the workforce investment system and its partners on effective use of assessment instruments; and release and transmit a new technical assistance resource, Testing and Assessment: A Guide to Good Practices for Workforce Investment Professionals (the Guide). This is the third in a series of Testing and Assessment Guides (see Section 2. References), which was initiated based on requests from workforce investment officials. This guidance notice and the attached new technical assistance guide are designed to support the workforce investment system in promoting talent development by ensuring that individuals served are able to make well-informed education and career choices.

The purpose of this Training and Employment Notice (TEN) is to provide information on the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) proposed Ticket to Work Program regulations.

To remind the workforce investment system of the performance reporting deadlines and associated timelines for submitting data validation results for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) title IB programs; the Wagner-Peyser Employment Service; activities authorized under chapter 41 of title 38 United States Code (Local Veterans’ Employment Representative and Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program); the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program; and the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP).

The purpose of this Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) is to highlight workforce investment activities allowable under WIA in support of talent development strategies that drive state and regional economic growth, and to specifically provide guidance on the interpretation of sections of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 that reference allowable activities and prohibitions related to economic development.

To advise State Workforce Agencies of their Alien Labor Certification (ALC) grant allocations under the FY 2008 Continuing Budget Resolution in effect November 17, 2007, through December 14, 2007.

To provide additional guidance to the states regarding the Department of Labor's (Department’s) interpretation of Federal law concerning the "outsourcing" of unemployment compensation (UC) claims taking functions.

To announce the release and availability of the ETA National Agricultural Workers Survey Public Access Data for Fiscal Years 1989-2006.

To inform local One-Stop Career Centers about the Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) partnership with the National PTA to implement the PTA Goes to Work Campaign.

To modify TEGL No. 11-07 to further clarify certain procedures for State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) and Employment and Training Administration (ETA) National Processing Centers (NPCs) involved in the processing of H-2A labor certification applications for temporary agricultural employment of foreign workers in the United States (U.S.).

To announce the release and the availability of ETA Occasional Paper 2007-15: Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services: Evaluation of State Worker Profiling Models.

To advise State Workforce Agencies of their Alien Labor Certification (ALC) grant allocations under the FY 2008 Continuing Budget Resolution in effect October 1, 2007, through November 16, 2007.

To transmit the subject computation for State Workforce Agency usage in computing minimum weekly DUA amounts for all major disasters declared during the first quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2008.

To inform the workforce investment system of the launch of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS), an initiative that will provide learning and funding opportunities relevant to the workforce investment system. This initiative is funded by the Annie E. Casey, Ford, Hitachi, and Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundations in collaboration with the United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

To provide states guidance on the Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) revised policy related to incentives and sanctions under title IB of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) for performance accountability purposes.

To invite state staff participation in two RJM training webinar sessions scheduled to be held November 14 – 15, 2007, and December 5-6, 2007.

To announce a planned BTQ Nonmonetary Determination Evaluation Training Seminar to be held December 3 – 7, 2007, in Atlanta, Georgia. We expect to offer three additional BTQ seminars during FY 2008. Dates and locations will be announced later.

To announce the implementation of a new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved quarterly financial reporting form, U.S. DOL ETA FINANCIAL REPORT (ETA-9130). This form will be required for use by all ETA grantees starting with the quarter ending September 30, 2007.

The purpose of this guidance is to clarify Department of Labor policy regarding existing flexibility under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to serve military spouses as dislocated workers under the WIA Dislocated Worker formula grant.

To provide states with the formula methodology used in developing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 base allocations and to describe the process for requesting additional TAA program reserve funds for training and job search and relocation allowances.

To request Area of Substantial Unemployment (ASU) designations in each state as defined in the WIA in order to allot funds under the Act for the period beginning July 1, 2008.