Veterans' Employment and Training Service: Labor Could Improve Information on Reemployment Services, Outcomes, and Program Impact

In response to this recommendation, VETS has applied consolidated measures to the DVOP and LVER programs for PY 2008, PY 2009 and PY 2010. For PY 2008, the application of three consolidated measures was initiated by the issuance of Veterans' Program Letter (VPL) 05-08. For PY 2009, application of the same three consolidated measures was maintained by the issuance of VPL 04-09, and for PY 2010, this practice was extended for a third year by the issuance of VPL 08-10. For PY 2011, VETS intends to actively consider revisions to the three current consolidated measures. Since PY 2008, the Entered Employment Rate, Employment Retention Rate and Average Earnings level have been applied on a consolidated basis to all veterans served by DVOP specialists and/or LVER staff. During that time, the consolidated Entered Employment Rate also has been weighted by providing higher credit for those veterans who enter employment after receiving intensive services. In conjunction with application of the three consolidated measures, VETS has separately applied the Entered Employment Rate and Employment Retention Rate to those disabled veterans who are served by DVOP specialists, and also has separately applied the same two measures to those recently separately veterans served by LVER staff. In light of the clear differences established in statute between the roles and responsibilities of DVOP specialists and LVER staff, VETS has concluded that it is essential to continue to measure the distinctive as well as the common achievements of these two programs. VETS anticipates that the current separate measures for DVOP specialists and LVER staff will be eliminated for PY 2011. However, VETS also anticipates that alternative separate measures will be developed and applied to better capture the outcomes that result from the statutory distinctions in the duties of DVOP specialists and LVER staff.

VETS has applied a weighted measure to the DVOP and LVER programs for PY 2008, PY 2009 and PY 2010. For PY 2008, the application of the weighted measure was initiated by the issuance of VPL 05-08. For PY 2009, the application of the same weighted measure was maintained by the issuance of VPL 04-09, and for PY 2010, this practice was extended for a third year by the issuance of VPL 08-10. For PY 2011, VETS intends to actively consider revising the current approach to weighted measurement. Since PY 2008, the consolidated Entered Employment Rate has been applied on a weighted basis to all veterans served by DVOP specialists and/or LVER staff. The weighted version of the consolidated Entered Employment Rate gives higher credit for veterans who enter employment after receiving intensive services.

Since publication of this report, DOL has taken several steps toward standardizing the definition of veteran that applies to workforce programs. The first step was taken in December 2008, when DOL published a Final Rule on Priority of Service. The Rule established that the definition of veteran appearing at 38 U.S.C. 101(2) applies to all workforce programs for the purposes of priority of service. This definition of veteran is functionally equivalent to the definition of veteran that was enacted, in somewhat different language, by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, and which is codified at 29 U.S.C. 2801(49)(A). The Title 38 definition of veteran that was adopted by the Final Rule on Priority of Service has the advantage of appearing in the definitions section of the Title of the U.S. Code that governs veterans' employment. The second step toward standardization also occurred in conjunction with publication of the Final Rule on priority of service. Specifically, the Information Collection Request that was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as a companion to the Final Rule, specified that the definition of veteran established by the Final Rule is to be applied to the data collection and reporting for all qualified job training programs. This is to take place as the reporting systems for these programs undergo their periodic reviews for renewal of OMB approval. The third step toward standardization took place in the course of consultations between DOL staff and Congressional staff about provisions to be considered for inclusion in WIA reauthorization. As part of those consultations, DOL recommended that Congress enact a provision that, for WIA purposes, would define veteran by referencing the Title 38 definition applied for priority of service. If enacted, that step would also avert the need to enact a conforming amendment of WIA, if the Title 38 definition were to be revised.