Job Training Partnership Act: Actions Needed to Improve Participant Support Services
HRD-92-124
Published: Jun 12, 1992. Publicly Released: Jun 12, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), focusing on: (1) the extent of participant support that local JTPA programs provide; (2) the relationship between support and program participant success; and (3) the amount of support provided through coordination arrangements with other sources.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
Matter | Status | Comments |
---|---|---|
Congress may wish to consider amending JTPA to reflect the true nature of work experience by requiring that work experience be categorized as training rather than participant support. | The JTPA amendments enacted in 1992, recategorize work experience as a training activity. Therefore, this recommendation has been fully adopted. | |
In addition, because Labor has been reluctant to take action, Congress may wish to consider amending JTPA to require the Secretary to ensure that all JTPA program cost categories are adequately defined and that costs are accurately reported. | The JTPA amendments enacted in 1992 require the Secretary of Labor to define, by regulation, the program cost categories. In addition, they provide for fiscal controls that also address the recommendation. Therefore, this recommendation has been fully adopted. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
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Department of Labor | To ensure that JTPA funds are used, to the maximum extent possible, for training purposes and that participants receive the support services needed to attend training, the Secretary of Labor should provide SDA with guidance on the use of resources potentially available from other agencies and programs to supplement JTPA funding for participant support. Furthermore, the Secretary should provide guidance to SDA on how best to seek out and obtain needs-based payments and supportive services potentially available through coordination agreements with other programs. |
The JTPA amendments, enacted in 1992, address the recommendations by implementing new coordination requirements. In addition, Labor has taken several actions to improve coordination and the use of other resources for supportive services.
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Topics
Accounting proceduresChild care programsCooperative agreementsEmployment assistance programsstate relationsIntergovernmental fiscal relationsIntergovernmental relationsReporting requirementsState-administered programsJTPA programsJOBS programs