For a complete listing of RSA policy guidance, please visit Sub-Regulatory Guidance.
The following guidance documents implement the WIOA performance accountability system for the State VR Services Program, as required by section 116 of WIOA and the joint regulations in Subpart E of 34 CFR 361: Performance Accountability Under Title I of WIOA. RSA developed several of these guidance documents jointly with its Federal partners at the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. Joint policy guidance is labeled as such and these documents also apply to the other five WIOA core programs.
Joint Guidance for the WIOA Performance Accountability System
On September 15, 2022, RSA reissued TAC 17-01: Performance Accountability Guidance for WIOA Core Programs. This joint policy guidance elaborates on the performance accountability requirements in section 116 of WIOA, the Joint WIOA Final Rule, and performance reporting requirements.
Post-Employment Services FAQs
On March 14, 2022, RSA issued FAQ-22-03: Post-Employment Services in response to questions VR agencies have asked regarding how to provide post-employment services to individuals with disabilities who have achieved employment outcomes and how to report these services on the Case Service Report (RSA-911), particularly because of the reporting requirements in Section 116 of the WIOA and its regulations. Specifically, VR agencies have asked how to report post-employment services since, as explained in these FAQs, VR agencies cannot reopen the service records of “participants” whose “exits” from the VR program have been reported through the RSA-911 under WIOA’s performance accountability system.
Joint WIOA Core Program Performance Accountability Assessments in PYs 2020 and 2021
On October 27, 2021, RSA issued issued FAQ-22-01 announcing that the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education (the Departments) determined it is appropriate and reasonable for the Department of Labor to begin assessing performance for two performance indicators under WIOA title I and III core programs for PYs 2020 and 2021 in accordance with the phased-in approach to performance assessments described in RSA-TAC-20-02. The Departments, as permitted under section 503(a) of WIOA, have determined it reasonable to delay assessing performance for the purpose of imposing sanctions for the remaining performance indicators to ensure an orderly transition from the requirements of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to those of WIOA.
COVID-19 FAQs related to Performance Accountability
On May 14, 2020, RSA issued this FAQ document to respond to two questions VR agencies posed related to implementation of the Case Service Report (RSA-911) outlined in RSA-PD-19-03 and the VR program's Statistical Adjustment Model for Measurable Skill Gains Rate.
On March 26, 2020, RSA issued this FAQ document to respond to two questions VR agencies posed related to the WIOA performance accountability provisions.
Joint Guidance on Negotiations and Sanctions
On February 6, 2020, RSA issued TAC 20-02: Negotiations and Sanctions Guidance for WIOA Core Programs. The joint policy guidance delineates the process for negotiating levels of performance, as required by section 116(b)(3)(A)(iv) of WIOA. The guidance also provides explanation of the two instances in which a state may be sanctioned - for performance failure or for failure to report. Section 116 of WIOA, its implementing regulations, and this guidance govern how the Departments will determine when it is necessary to sanction a state, which is statutorily required by WIOA.
Joint Guidance for Data Validation
On December 19, 2018, RSA issued TAC 19-01: Guidance for Validating Jointly Required Performance Data Submitted under WIOA. This joint policy guidance provides States with a general framework for data validation. Specifically, RSA and its Federal partners developed this joint policy guidance pursuant to section 116(d)(5) of WIOA, which requires the establishment of data validation guidelines to ensure the information contained in program reports is valid and reliable. States, including the VR programs, must develop data validation procedures consistent with these guidelines.
Joint Guidance related to WIOA Annual Performance Report Submission
On September 11, 2017, RSA issued TAC 17-05: WIOA Annual Performance Report Submission in which the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education (collectively, Departments) exercised their transition authority under section 503(a) of WIOA to inform States that the Departments will consider Program Year (PY) 2016 WIOA Statewide and Local Performance Reports (form ETA-9169) submitted by October 16, 2017, as being timely. For all subsequent PYs, States must submit the WIOA Statewide and Local Performance Report by October 1 to be considered timely, pursuant to the “WIOA Performance Accountability, Information and Reporting System” information collection request.
Joint Guidance on the Use of Supplemental Wage Information
On June 1, 2017, RSA issued TAC 17-04: Guidance on the Use of Supplemental Wage Information to Implement the Performance Accountability Requirements under WIOA. This joint guidance clarifies the use of supplemental wage information related to verifying and reporting on the three employment-related performance indicators (employment rate during the second quarter after exit from the program; employment rate during the fourth quarter after exit from the program; and median earnings during the second quarter after exit from the program). The guidance also applies to the employment-related portion of the credential attainment indicator.
Joint Guidance on Data Matching to Facilitate WIOA Performance Reporting and Evaluation
This joint guidance is a resource to provide information to assist State agencies (including VR agencies and workforce development agencies), educational agencies and institutions, and service providers in performance reporting and evaluation requirements under WIOA. Under WIOA, States are required to use education information and quarterly wage records to measure performance of the six core programs and other title I programs authorized by WIOA, which raises complex issues related to data sharing and privacy. This guidance provides States with information about applicable requirements for, and procedures and options for, matching confidential Unemployment Compensation information from wage records with personal information from VR records, and personally identifiable information from education records, and for protecting the confidentiality of information contained in such records.
RSA-911 Supporting Documentation Requirements
On March 31, 2017, RSA issued guidelines for Supporting Documentation for Case Service Report (RSA-911) to assist VR agencies with maintaining appropriate supporting documentation in service records. The examples of supporting documentation in these guidelines illustrate the types of documents RSA would consider to demonstrate the validity and accuracy of certain key data reported through the RSA-911.
RSA FAQs related to RSA-911 Changes
On August 8, 2016, RSA issued a set of frequently asked questions related to the RSA-911 that outline the changes in case service reporting necessary to capture the performance requirements under WIOA.