Memo No. 039-21: Additional Measurable Skill Gains for Adult Education Participants

Revised guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, received July 20, 2021, clarifies that providers funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Title II, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) may report additional measurable skill gains (MSG) for participants enrolled in workplace literacy education and integrated education and training (IET) programs. This guidance is in effect for providers in Virginia as of July 1, 2021.

Providers may continue to report the following MSG types for all adult education participants:

Type 1. Documentation of an educational functioning level (EFL) gain in one of three ways:

a. Educational functioning level gain as measured by a NRS-approved pre- and post-assessment

b. Transition from the Diagnostic Phase to the Generalized Assessment Phase within the National External Diploma Program (NEDP)

c. Exiting adult education and entering a postsecondary education or training program during the program year

Type 2. Attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (GED®)

Providers may also report the additional MSG types for participants in workplace literacy education and IET programs only:

Type 3. Postsecondary transcript or report card for sufficient credit hours that shows a participant is meeting satisfactory progress (12 credit hours per semester for full-time participants; 12 credit hours over the course of two consecutive semesters during the program year for part-time participants)

Type 4. Satisfactory or better progress report toward established milestones as verified by an employer or training provider providing the training

Type 5. Successfully passing an occupational exam or progress in attaining technical or occupational skills, as evidenced by benchmarks such as knowledge-based exams.

Throughout the program year, the VDOE and the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center (VALRC) will offer technical assistance and training on program design and data reporting related to these new MSG types.

If you have further questions, please contact Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, Ph.D., Adult Education Coordinator, by email at OAEL@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 786-3347.