Chief Executive
Officer's Message |
| Dear Women Work! Members: Congress
has just returned from their month-long August recess, during which your Representative
and Senators spent time working in their home districts. Prior to leaving for recess, a
number of important business was left unfinished, including Perkins
reauthorization.
It is unclear whether Congress will be able to complete
this reauthorization during the few weeks they are in session before the target
adjournment in mid-October. However, it is clear that your efforts have resulted in
victory for women in transition. As discussed in the in-depth analysis in this issue of
the Insider, both House and Senate proposals contain targeted local
funding for SP/DH programs.
We have sent a clear message to Congress, and they have
listened. Keep your calls, emails, and letters to your legislators coming. Let them know
how important their work is, and that it is urgent that they complete Perkins
reauthorization soon.
Sincerely,
Jill Miller
Women Work! CEO |
Renew your Women Work! membership.
Make a donation to Women Work! today. |
Update: Perkins Reauthorization
As reported in the May, July and
August issues of the Economic Equity Insider, both chambers of Congress have been
working to develop and finalize their Perkins reauthorization proposals. The House
proposal, introduced on June 3rd, and the Senate's proposal, introduced on July 19th, both
make significant changes to current Perkins law. Many of these changes will impact women
in transition positively. Perhaps most importantly, both proposals would authorize funding
at the local level for single parent/displaced homemaker programs and activities.
The House Proposal
The House proposal, H.R. 4496, was approved by the House Committee on Education and the
Workforce on July 19th. The accompanying committee report released on September 7th
outlines in further detail what activities could be permitted under the House proposal,
which include: outreach, recruitment, counseling, life skills development, vocational
assessment and testing, supportive services (transportation, child care, dependent care,
needs-based payments), financial literacy training, and job readiness preparation.
H.R. 4496 is awaiting a House floor vote. It is possible
that the House could pass their Perkins bill before the 108th Congress adjourns, but no
vote has been scheduled.
The Senate Proposal
S. 2686, the Senate's proposal, goes further than the House proposal in improving
Perkins for women in transition. It includes most of the provisions contained in the House
bill, and also includes many references to "self-sufficiency," improvements in
career guidance and counseling provisions, and increased national research and evaluation
requirements for special populations.
The Senate proposal has been introduced in the Senate, but
has not yet been passed by the Senate's H.E.L.P. (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee). A committee markup has been scheduled for September 22nd. It is unclear
whether the Senate will continue to move their Perkins proposal forward or postpone
reauthorization until next Congress in 2005.
Analysis of House and Senate Perkins
Reauthorization Proposals
H.R.4496 |
S.2686 |
Funding for Local DH/SP Programs |
| Each recipient of local funds
is required to "provide activities to prepare special populations, including
single parents and displaced homemakers, for high skill, high wage occupations that will
lead to self-sufficiency." |
Each recipient of local funds
is required to "provide activities to prepare special populations, including
single parents and displaced homemakers, for high skill, high wage or high demand
occupations, including those that will lead to self-sufficiency." |
| Analysis: In
current law, local recipients of Perkins funds are permitted to provide programs for
special populations, and to support nontraditional training and employment activities.
However, in both House and Senate proposals, locals must
provide services to single parents and displaced homemakers, which could include
nontraditional training. This represents an enormous victory for the
gender equity community, and could translate into increased
funding for programs at the local level, if these provisions stay in tact
through the remainder of the legislative process. Strong and sustained advocacy at the
local and national level will be necessary to preserve this provision. |
Definitions |
| Changes definition of "nontraditional
training and employment" to "nontraditional fields" throughout
bill. Also modifies definition to include "current and emerging high skill
occupations." |
Changes definition of
"nontraditional training and employment" to "nontraditional fields"
throughout bill. |
| Analysis: This
change in terminology is found throughout both House and Senate proposals, including in
the definitions section. It is important to note that while the terminology has changed,
the actual definition of nontraditional training and employment remains unchanged. In both
bills, the definition will continue to read: "occupations or fields of work,
including careers in computer science, technology, and other emerging high skill
occupations, for which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of the
individuals employed in each such occupation or field of work." This change,
therefore, is only a semantic change and will not affect nontraditional training
initiatives or programs. |
State Funding for Nontraditional
Training |
| Requires $60,000 to $150,000 to
be spent on nontraditional training and employment. |
Requires a minimum of $60,000
to be spent on nontraditional training and employment. |
| Analysis: Under
current law, each State is allocated Perkins funds based on a formula that factors in
state population by age and state per capita income. From this total amount, at least 85%
is directed to local eligible recipients, 5% is reserved for state administration, and 10%
is reserved for state leadership activities. Of this 10%, $60,000-$150,000 is to be used
for services that prepare individuals for nontraditional training and employment. The
Senate eliminates the current cap of $150,000 on these funds, which if included in the
final Perkins law, may result in a reduction in expenditures by States. The Senate likely
intended to increase funds spent on statewide nontraditional training services. But a
recent National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity survey of state equity coordinators
found that 65% of respondents indicated that removing the cap would likely not increase
funding for nontraditional training in their state. Twenty-seven percent of respondents
predict that removal of the cap would actually result in a reduction in funding. Many
respondents indicated their states would most likely drop to the floor, or move in that
direction, as the cap gives them a target to reach to prove their commitment. |
Accountability |
| Creates separate sets of
performance measures for secondary and postsecondary students. Maintains core indicator
of performance on nontraditional training. |
Creates separate sets of
performance measures for secondary and postsecondary students. Maintains core indicator
of performance on nontraditional training. |
| Analysis: In
current Perkins law, States must collect data on student performance and outcomes in order
to report annually to the Department of Education on the "four core indicators of
performance." These are a set of four performance measures that illustrate how well
students are succeeding in attaining technical skills, diplomas or recognized credentials,
or placement in post-secondary education or training. The fourth core indicator measures
"student participation in and completion of vocational and technical programs that
lead to nontraditional training and employment." The fourth core indicator is
arguably the most important performance measure for the gender equity community in that it
is intended to create an incentive for schools to continually improve their nontraditional
programs. Both the House and Senate proposals create two separate sets of core
indicators of performance, one for secondary students, and the other for post-secondary
students. This recognizes the different circumstances and goals of the two groups of
students. Notably, and after much advocacy from Women Work! and other gender equity
groups, the nontraditional core indicator was preserved for both secondary and
postsecondary students. |
Data and Reporting |
| States required to submit
report on performance with data disaggregated by special population, gender, race,
ethnicity, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency, and status as
economically disadvantaged. |
States required to submit
report on performance with data disaggregated by special population, gender, race,
ethnicity, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency, and status as
economically disadvantaged. |
| Analysis: Under
current Perkins law, each State must annually prepare and submit a report to the
Department of Education that includes the progress of the State in achieving the core
indicators of performance; how special populations met any additional indicators set by
the state; and a quantifiable description of how special populations met the core
indicators of performance. (Special populations include, among other groups, single
parents, displaced homemakers, and individuals preparing for nontraditional employment.) Both
the House and Senate proposals have amended this provision to require that States
disaggregate the data they have collected regarding the core indicators of performance by
the categories outlined above. This is a very positive change to the law that would allow
a more detailed understanding of student performance. The House proposal further requires
that States "identify and quantify any disparities in performance between any such
category of students and the performance of all students." This would assist
States in the development and improvement of programs to increase the lagging performance
of certain types of students, such as special populations
. |
Self-Sufficiency |
| Use of term in local program
language (see below). |
Use of term in local program
language (see below). Includes definition of self-sufficiency.
States are permitted to use Perkins funds to create a self-sufficiency standard. |
| Analysis: Current
Perkins law does not use the concept of self-sufficiency. The Senate proposal includes a
definition of self-sufficiency: "a standard that is adopted, calculated or
commissioned by a local area or State, and which adjusts for local factors, in specifying
the income needs of families, by family size, the number and ages of children in the
family, and sub-State geographical conditions." States are permitted to use
Perkins funds to create a self-sufficiency standard, if they choose to. The Senate also
uses the term throughout its proposal as both a way to measure students’ progress,
and as a tool in career guidance and counseling. Thirty-four states and the District of
Columbia currently use a self-sufficiency standard, and Wyoming plans to release its
standard by 2005. |
Supportive Services |
| Definition includes
transportation, child care, dependent care and needs-based payments. Local areas
permitted to use Perkins funds to provide information and referrals to above services. |
Definition includes "work
supports." Local areas permitted to use Perkins funds to provide "work
supports." |
| Analysis:
Current Perkins law does not contain any provisions regarding supportive services. These
provisions were removed during the 1998 reauthorization. Due to Women Work!’s
advocacy with other gender equity organizations, some language regarding supportive
services is included in both House and Senate proposals. The House definition includes
"transportation, child care, dependent care and needs-based payments, that are
necessary to enable an individual to participate in activities authorized under this Act."
Locals may use their Perkins dollars to provide information and referrals to students
regarding the availability of these services in the local community. While this does not
allow Perkins funds to be spent directly on child care, transportation vouchers, and the
like, it is am improvement over current law.
The Senate proposal’s definition is more vague, only referring to "work
supports." This term is not defined elsewhere in the bill. The Senate proposal would
also allow locals to use their Perkins funds for "work supports." Although this
is a loose term, it could mean funding for services. Further clarification will be
required by the Senate. |
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The Economic Equity Insider is published monthly while
Congress is in session and is a benefit of membership with Women Work!
Editor: Katherine Reilly Contributor: Katherine Reilly |
|