Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to be reauthorized this year
Immigrants' Rights Update, Vol. 17, No. 1, February 21, 2003

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which replaced the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) in 1998, is scheduled to be reauthorized by Congress by Sept. 30, 2003. The WIA is the major source of federal funding for most workforce development programs, including job training, adult basic education, and English as a second language classes. Unlike the JTPA, the WIA does not have any criteria that require funds to be directed at low-income individuals. Rather, the WIA was conceived as a "one-stop delivery system" where all workers can seek employment, education, and training services at local and regional "one-stop centers." However, because most one-stop centers have interpreted the WIA as requiring a "work first" emphasis, they have implemented programs that emphasize job placement over providing skills training.

Although WIA's goal is to "improve the quality of the workforce," WIA programs have been ineffective in serving immigrants and persons who are limited English-proficient (LEP). Most job seekers have been prevented from participating in training programs under the WIA because of the "work first" mentality. For immigrants, this inability to receive training is significant. Immigrants who are fluent in oral and written English earn approximately 24 percent more than those who lack fluency, regardless of their vocational qualifications. Even when immigrants are given the opportunity to enroll in training programs, there are not enough of them to meet their training needs. Most training programs, for example, are linguistically inaccessible for LEP participants and/or require an eighth grade English reading level. Extensive research demonstrates that programs that integrate skills training and education with English proficiency are more effective than those providing skills training or education alone.

The reauthorization debate will create an opportunity to improve the program, although Congress is unlikely to make major changes. Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA), chair of the House 21st Century Competitiveness Subcommittee in the Education and the Workforce Committee, is currently seeking public comment on reauthorization. Comments are due by Feb. 28, 2003, and can be submitted on the subcommittee's Web site at http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/108th/workforce/wia/wiacomments/index.htm. For more information or to receive model comments, please contact Tyler Moran at moran@nilc.org.