WIOA Title I-A & I-B Policy & Procedure Manual

Examples of Allowable Program Milestones for WIOA Youth Program Incentive Payments

Effective date: September 4, 2018

Revised: March 21, 2019

This guidance is for local WDBs that choose to use WIOA funds to offer incentive payments to youth participants. It is intended to provide examples of allowable program milestones that are used by one or more local WDBs. As outlined in Chapter 10.6 of DWD-DET's WIOA Title I-A & I-B Policy & Procedure Manual, each local WDB must establish its own policies and procedures regarding incentive payments. Local WDBs must define allowable milestones for incentives and the documentation required for each type of milestone.

Type of Milestone	Notes on Conditions when Allowable	Associated Service(s)	Example Documentation
1. Attain High School Diploma	Allowable	Non WIOA Funded Secondary Education Tutoring, Study Skills Training, Dropout Prevention	Copy of diploma or transcript showing graduation
2. Attain GED/HSED	Allowable	Alternative Secondary School or Dropout Recovery Services Non WIOA Funded Secondary Education Tutoring, Study Skills Training, Dropout Prevention Adult Basic Education	Copy of GED/HSED or transcript showing graduation
3. Pass a Component of the GED Test	Allowable	Alternative Secondary School or Dropout Recovery Services Non WIOA Funded Secondary Education Adult Basic Education Tutoring, Study Skills Training, Dropout Prevention	Copy of official document showing passing score
4. Achieve a "Likely to Pass" Score on a GED Practice Test	Allowable	Alternative Secondary School or Dropout Recovery Services Non WIOA Funded Secondary Education Adult Basic Education Tutoring, Study Skills Training, Dropout Prevention	Copy of practice test results
5. Achieve Basic Skills Improvement	Allowable if a training service occurred. This does not require being basic skills deficient, but a local WDB could add this as a local condition. Local policy should clearly define what a "Basic Skills Improvement" means, such as increasing a set number of grade levels on a TABE test.	Alternative Secondary School or Dropout Recovery Services Non WIOA Funded Secondary Education Adult Basic Education Tutoring, Study Skills Training, Dropout Prevention Occupational Skill Training	Copies of pre- and post-tests
6. Return to Secondary School	Allowable for out-of-school youth within compulsory attendance age. Not allowable for in-school youth.	Non WIOA Funded Secondary Education	Copy of official document from the secondary school showing the participant is enrolled in and attending school
7. Secondary School Attendance	Allowable if out-of-school youth within compulsory attendance age returns to school and remains. Local WDBs may set timeframe - semester, school year, etc. Not allowable for in-school youth.	Non WIOA Funded Secondary Education	Copy of report card or other official document from the secondary school showing participant's school attendance
8. Achieve Post-Secondary Certificate or Degree	Allowable	Occupational Skill Training Education Offered Concurrently with Workforce Preparation Activities Non WIOA Funded Post-Secondary Education Apprenticeship	Copy of diploma/certificate or transcript
9. Application to Post-Secondary School	Allowable. Post-secondary training or education does not have to be started or completed, but must be planned.	Activities Helping Youth Transition to Post-Secondary Education and Training	Copy of letter confirming application or confirming acceptance/denial of admission
10. Completion of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or other financial aid application	Allowable if post-secondary education or training is planned; education or training does not have to be started or completed.	Activities Helping Youth Transition to Post-Secondary Education and Training	Copy of notification of receipt or submission
11. Enrollment in Post-Secondary School	Allowable. Post-secondary training or education does not have to be started or completed, but must be planned.	Activities Helping Youth Transition to Post-Secondary Education and Training	Copy of course schedule
12. Post-Secondary Semester Completion	Allowable. Local WDBs may set minimum conditions for incentive, such as credits earned, GPA, etc.	Occupational Skill Training Education Offered Concurrently with Workforce Preparation Activities	Copy of transcript
13. Completing a Résumé	Allowable	Work Experience: Internship Work Experience: School Year Employment Work Experience: Summer Employment Opportunities	Copy of completed résumé or ASSET WIOA Title III proof of completion
14. Completing a Job Application	Allowable	Work Experience: Internship Work Experience: School Year Employment Work Experience: Summer Employment Opportunities	Copy of notification from employer of application receipt or ASSET WIOA Title III proof of completion
15. Completing an Informational Interview	Allowable	Career Awareness, Exploration, and Counseling	Copy of documentation from employer or company confirming interview completion
16. Completing Job Shadow	Allowable	Work Experience: Job Shadowing	Copy of letter on company letterhead regarding the participant's completion of a job shadow activity.
17. Completing an aptitude and/or career interest assessment	Allowable	Career Awareness, Exploration, and Counseling	Copy of completed assessment
18. Obtaining Unsubsidized Employment	Allowable	Any service that leads to the participant obtaining unsubsidized employment during the period of participation	Pay stub(s) or letter of hire
19. Retaining Unsubsidized Employment	Allowable	Any service that leads to the participant retaining unsubsidized employment during the period of participation	Pay stub(s)
20. Developing a Resource Plan for Addressing Barriers	Allowable if the plan addresses barriers to training or employment, related to supportive services (e.g., childcare, transportation, etc.)	Any training, education, or work experience	Copy of plan
21. Leadership in a Club or Committee	Allowable if tied to an education or training service	Any training or education	Letter from club faculty advisor; official club meeting minutes; club officer roster
22. Completing Community Service/Volunteer Hours	Allowable. Local WDBs may specify that community service cannot be court ordered or required by school.	Work Experience: Internship Activities Helping Youth Transition to Post-Secondary Education and Training	Copy of letter on company letterhead that confirms the participant's completion of a community service/volunteer activity
23. Entrepreneurial Training or Planning	Allowable if business ownership is a goal identified on the participant's ISS	Entrepreneurial Skills Training	Completed business plan or similar achievement produced during entrepreneurial training.
24. Basic Certifications	Allowable if the certification is required for a training or work experience service. This includes CPR/First Aid, OSHA 10, Job Safety Training.	Any training or work experience	Copy of certification with case notes/ISS explaining what requirement the certification fulfills
25. Achievement of National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) at bronze level or higher	Allowable if tied to work experience	Any work experience	Copy of NCRC certificate or ASSET WIOA Title III proof of completion
26. Study Skills Improvement	Allowable if tied to an education or training service	Tutoring, Study Skills Training, Dropout Prevention	Pre- and post-tests showing improved study skills or other documentation showing measurable improvement
27. Apprenticeship Achievements	Allowable for attaining an apprenticeship, or milestones such as completing a year or the entire apprenticeship	Work Experience: Pre-apprenticeship Programs Apprenticeship	Copy of journeyman card or other official documentation showing achievement of registered apprenticeship milestones; for Youth Apprenticeship participants, proof of registration as a Youth Apprentice or the Youth Apprenticeship completion certificate (Certificate of Occupational Proficiency)

Basic Skills Deficient (Youth Program definition)

Effective date: September 4, 2018

Youth has English reading, writing, or computing skills at or below the 8th grade level on a generally accepted standardized test OR is unable to read, write or speak English or compute/solve problems at a level that is necessary to function in a job, in their family, or in society. If applying the second standard, the local WDB must have a policy in its local plan that outlines specific criteria that career planners are to use.

Postsecondary School

Effective date: September 4, 2018

Any credit-bearing education outside of the K-12 grades and is:

an institution of higher education that provides not less than a 2-year program of instruction that can be used as credit toward a bachelor's degree,
OR
a tribally controlled college or university,
OR
a nonprofit educational institution offering a certificate,
OR
a nonprofit educational institution offering a registered apprenticeship program.

These don't count as schools: adult education programs under title II of WIOA, YouthBuild programs, the Job Corps program, secondary school equivalency programs funded by a source other than the public K-12 school system, and dropout re-engagement programs.

Secondary School

Effective date: September 4, 2018

Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. Must be a public, private, charter, or tribal school or a home-based private educational program or an alternative education program.

These don't count as schools: adult education programs under Title II of WIOA, YouthBuild programs, the Job Corps program, secondary school equivalency programs funded by a source other than the public K-12 school system, and dropout re-engagement programs.

Compulsory Attendance Age

Effective date: September 4, 2018

Under the age of 18 or turned 18 in the middle of a school term, quarter or semester, has not yet graduated secondary school, AND has not attended secondary school for the most recently completed school year quarter or longer.

Informational Interview

Effective date: September 4, 2018

DWD-DET defines "informational interview" as a meeting in which an individual gathers information about a specific job, career and/or company in which he or she interested by speaking with someone with experience in that job, career or company. During an informational interview, an individual may learn about the interviewee's real-life experience and seek advice about the training and qualifications needed for a specific job or career. It is not a job interview.