SPIR Questions and Answers. ATTACHMENT: SPIR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 1. How do you treat participants who only get objective assessment and for whatever reason get no training, job search assistance or basic readjustment services? What are the implications for performance standards, including the follow-up process? What termination category are they to be reported in? Because of the client-level nature of SPIR it will be possible to identify such individuals and exclude them from performance standards calculations. Regarding follow-up, they would be excluded from the universe for the sample. A precise method for reporting individuals to be excluded from performance standards calculations will be provided with the final SPIR instructions and record layout, to be issued in the near future. 2. Will there be exclusions from the requirement to determine reading/math proficiency for certain types of individuals? If there is any question regarding reading ability a test should be administered. However, it is our intent to permit exclusions for individuals for whom school records of tests administered during the past year are available. For these individuals, the known level will be entered. Also excluded from the testing requirement are applicants with a BA from a four year college or an advanced degree (e.g., MA, Ph.D) from an institution recognized by the department of education in the State. 3. How will the reading level of individuals who entered the program in PY 1992 be reported on the SPIR? The comparable reporting element on the JASR/WAPR is "reading skills below the 7th grade". In order to capture this important dimension without requiring further testing, a special coding system will be established for the SPIR. PY 1992 participants determined to be reading below the 7th grade will be reported as "96" in item 23 on the SPIR; those determined to be reading above the 7th grade will be reported as "98". (Refer to the SPIR record layout). 4. If an individual receives two different types of the same category of training (e.g., adult basic education and ESL under "basic skills training), and complete a one course but not the other, how is the YES/NO completion status reported ln item 28a? In this case would the person have to have completed both courses for a YES ln item 28a? The instruction for item 28 states "Indicate whether any activity in the category was completed. This is to be interpreted precisely as written; therefore, if a component or course is completed (the participant achieved the individual activity's goal), a YES should be recorded. 5. What is the "Date of Application" as compared to the "Date of Eligibility Determination"? The distinction should become clear with a close reading of the instructions. The "Date of Application" is literally the date the individual initiated paperwork for entry into the JTPA program. The "Date of Eligibility Determination" is the date on which review of all of the documentation relating to eligibility had been completed and a yes/no decision for the relevant title(s) had been made (item 10). 6. What is the difference between item 17a (currently enrolled in and attending school) and 17b (enrolled and attending school full time)? What if any, will the significance be for in school/out-of-school distinctions? Strictly speaking, the SPIR by itself will not be conclusive in monitoring the in-school/out-of-school ratio. The legislated ratio requirement is that "not less-than 50 percent of the participants...in each service delivery area shall be out of school individuals...." While the terminee information on the SPIR may offer some insight as to the type of youth in the program, actual compliance can only be judged in terms of total participants served (terminus plus those still enrolled in the program). Item 17a will capture individuals currently enrolled in and attending school (part-time or full-time), including those expected to participate in school-wide projects. Item 17b is a subset of item 17a, and from these two items we can identify those individuals who may be enrolled in a school on paper but rarely, if ever, actually attend. For the purpose of determining "School Dropout", in accordance with the definition and hard-to-serve targeting provisions in the Amendments, all participants coded 00 through 11 in item 17 are considered "School Dropout" UNLESS the SPIR record for such individuals has a "Yes" entry in subitem 17a. 7. For those SDAs that choose to report raw scores for reading/math tests, what happens in States not capable of translating them into grade level equivalents? The technical assistance support contractor will have the capability to do the conversion. 8. What constitutes actual hours of training? How should breaks in training, such as holidays, vacations, and absences be treated? Again, a close reading, and a literal interpretation, of the SPIR instructions provides the answer. Item 27 defines total actual hours as "the total number of hours the individual is engaged in all training activities within each category. Use the actual hours recorded by the vendor or program administrator." The emphasized phrases make a clear statement that contracted hours or scheduled hours is not adequate, and that actual hours of attendance is the required information. 9. In terms of fringe benefits for employment at termination, what happens if the individual is on probation and cannot receive benefits until the probationary period is over? Fringe benefits count so long as they are an acknowledged component of employment conditions, whether received or not. 10. Will separate information on the school-wide project be added to the SPIR? Provision will be made to capture this information. An additional coding designation will be added to SPIR item 17a to identify participants who are expected to be part of a schoolwide project. 11. What is DOL's latest thinking on the use of UI wage record data for follow-up purposes, particularly considering the reference in the amendments to a performance standard for six month employment retention? The optional standard for six month retention is not required to take effect before July 1, 1995. In the meantime, the Department is undertaking a series of pilot studies specifically designed to examine operational issues associated with using UI wage records for performance management. These include timing for incentives, uncovered and out-of-State employment, UI data quality, and capacity of ADP systems to handle a large volume of data requests. States have been invited to participate in the project. The results of the study, expected in about a year, will assist us in deciding how to proceed with six month retention standards and with the use of UI records. 12. Are all of the employment barriers specified in the new targeting provisions included on the SPIR? As a result of an adjustment to the "offender" item, all employment barriers specified in the targeting provisions will be provided for on the SPIR. An earlier adjustment to alter the SPIR item to "Pregnant or Parenting Youth", plus the establishment of additional responses to several items, also have been made. NOTE: Similar to the out-of-school ratio requirement, the targeting provisions are based on total participants served rather than program terminus. Thus, while the SPIR may provide some indication of service to target groups, it cannot by itself serve as the basis for compliance determinations. 13. What is the proper procedure when an individual is determined to be eligible for more than one title? CASE 1: An individual is determined eligible for more than one program but does not become a participant in any. SPIR Items 110 are collected and retained. (Note that the 11-12-92 Federal Requester Notice erroneously indicates "Items 1-9" on page 53830.) No information is reported. Indicate in Item 10 all of the programs for which the individual is determined eligible. (The final SPIR record layout will accommodate multiple entries in Item 10.) The information from Items 1-10 should be retained in such a way that it can be retrieved in response to an inquiry into any specific program for which the individual was determined eligible, whether or not the individual actually participated in that program. CASE 2: An individual is determined allocable for more than one program but becomes a participant in only one. In addition to the requirements in Case 1, a complete SPIR is reported for the program in which the individual participated. CASE 3: An individual is determined eligible for more than one program and becomes a participant in more than one. In addition to the requirements in Case 1, a complete SPIR is reported for each program in which the individual participated. Item 12 (Program of Participation) would indicate the program for which that particular SPIR record would apply. Item 12a (Concurrent Participation) would be marked "Yes" on all records for that individual. (Note that Item 12a may also be marked "Yes" in situations that do not require multiple SPIR records for one individual, since concurrent participation is not restricted to JTPA programs.) 14. What is the distinction between "initial screening for eligibility and suitability" and "objective assessment"? Initial screening for eligibility and suitability parallels much of what is currently termed "intake" in the JASR/WAPR. this includes eligibility screening, a determination of whether the program can benefit the individual, a general identification of the range of activities and services appropriate for an individual and a determination as to their availability, dissemination of information on the program, and a decision on selection for participation. "Objective assessment", primarily a Title II activity, occurs after it is decided to select the eligible applicant for participation; s/he becomes a participant on the day objective assessment begins. Such assessment is client-centered and is a diagnostic evaluation of the participants's skills, abilities, attitudes, and interests. It is classified in section 204(b)(1) as a "direct training service" provided to a participant and forms the basis of the individual service strategy based on skill levels and service needs. This is consistent with the JASR/WAPR concept of participation beginning with n receipt of employment, training, or services...funded under the Act, following intake." 15. After Program Year 1992, may records for ALL participants, who have terminated during the program year, including the information required to be submitted by August 15, also be provided with the SPIR due by November 15? Yes. The participant records for ALL those terminating during the program year, including follow-up information for all terminees, may be provided with the November 15 submission, even though some of these records were previously provided, by August 15, as required. 16. At what point does the allowable 45 day period between eligible applicant and participant status begin? The 45 day period, as specified in section 627.235 (c) of the JTPA regulations, begins the day eligibility determination is completed and documented. Title II objective assessment, or Title III program activity, must begin within 45 days from that point or a new application and eligibility determination is required.

Information about the DOC's Defense Adjustment Assistance programs and the toll free "1-800" Number. The Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has established a Defense Conversion Toll-Free "1-800" Number to help your constituents and local officials with economic readjustment plans 1-800-345-1222 Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (EST) Please Share This With Your District Office And Your State and Local Officials. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION DEFENSE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE The Secretary of Commerce is working with the Secretaries of Defense, Labor, Energy and other members of the President's National Economic Council, to meet the needs of those affected by military base closings and defense contract reductions. Within the Department of Commerce (DoC), the Economic Development Administration (EDA) is the primary agency responding to defense adjustment impacts on communities. BASE CLOSURES In the case of base closures, a base reuse plan or strategy must be locally developed as the first step in the defense adjustment assistance process. The Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment (DoD) is the lead agency for the development and funding of such plans. Communities which are initiating the defense adjustment assistance process, should first contact the Director, Office of Economic Adjustment, Department of Defense, 400 Army Navy Drive, Room 200, Arlington, VA 22202-2884, telephone (703)695-1800. EDA will consider applications for funding selected implementation steps of the DoD sponsored base reuse plan. DEFENSE CONTRACT REDUCTIONS EDA can also assist communities facing economic adjustment problems resulting from defense procurement contract reductions. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE Usually EDA assistance is funded under the Title IX Economic Adjustment program (42 U.S.C. 3241). However, Title I Public Works funds (42 U.S.C.3141) may also be requested for defense adjustment projects if all the Title I criteria are met. When EDA assistance is provided under the Title IX Sudden and Severe Economic Dislocation (SSED) program, virtually all of EDA's program tools may be packaged into a single grant including components for planning/strategy (not duplicating DoD), technical assistance, construction/public works, revolving loan fund assistance, and training (not duplicating Department of Labor or Education programs). FUNDING DoD has transferred $130 million to EDA's Title IX program specifically for defense-related adjustment projects. For FY 1993, another $11,037,000 is available for EDA's SSED assistance program to respond to all types of economic dislocation events, including defense adjustment events. In addition, in FY 1993 the President has requested a supplemental economic stimulus appropriation for Title IX, including defense conversion. INFORMATION The rules and procedures contained in the Agency's annual Federal Register (January 11, 1993) notice of the availability of funds and the Supplemental Federal Register (March 10, 1992) notice of the availability of special defense adjustment funds apply. Copies of the notices may be obtained from EDA at the address below. Communities facing base closures or defense contract reductions should contact the EDA regional offices listed in the Agency's annual Federal Register notice of the availability of funds for more detailed information about application procedures. Additional information on the base closure process may be obtained from the Base Closure Commission, 1700 North Moore St., Suite 1425, Arlington, VA, 22209. For more information about the Commerce Department's defense adjustment assistance programs, you may contact the Economic Development Administration, Room H7327, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC, 20230, telephone 1-800-345-1222.

Click on links below to view, save, or print Attachment(s).

None.

A "Fact Sheet" about the IPA program To obtain a copy of attachment(s), please contact Deloris Norris of the Office of Regional Management at (202) 219-5585.

To preserve the formatting of this document, it has been converted to PDF (Portable Document Format) to retain its original layout. Click on links below to view, save, or print Attachment(s).

Attachment 1: Final Rule regarding the ESA's Wage and Hour Division's changes to three HOs (Federal Register), Vol. 56, No. 224, November 20, 1991), Attachment 2: Child Labor Bulletin No. 101. Attachment 3: Fact sheets regarding the employment of minors in farm and non farm jobs. To obtain a copy of attachment(s), please contact Deloris Norris of the Office of Regional Management at (202) 219-5585.

To obtain a copy of attachment(s), please contact Deloris Norris of the Office of Regional Management at (202) 219-5585. 1. 1995 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. 2. 1995 Lower Living Standard Income Level Guidelines.

List of Directives Extended To obtain a copy of attachment(s), please contact Deloris Norris at the Office of Regional Management at (202) 219-5585.

To preserve the formatting of this document, it has been converted to PDF (Portable Document Format) to retain its original layout. Click on links below to view, save, or print Attachment(s).