11.17 Measurable Skill Gain Policy

11.17.1 Measurable Skill Gain Policy

Effective date: January 10, 2020

The Measurable Skill Gain (MSG) is a new indicator required by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) designed to measure in-progress skill gains made by program participants in education or training during a program year.

The MSG indicator

The MSG indicator is the percentage of program participants who, during a program year:

• are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment; and
• achieve documented progress in attaining academic, technical, occupational, or other forms of progress towards that credential or employment.

Operational Parameters

• A MSG must be made during any program year where a participant is in training or education for at least one day regardless if the participant exits during the PY.
• The report period is a program year. Program Years (PY) begin on July 1st and end on June 30th. They are designated by the year the PY begins.
• The MSG is an in-process indicator that examines active participants in training/education.
• The MSG indicator denominator includes participants who were enrolled in education or training during the PY.
  • Regardless if training/education was completed or not
  • Regardless of when the participant begins training or is enrolled in education
• Participants that exit with an exclusion have the exclusion apply to the year the participant exits.

Specific Guidance for each method of Measurable Skill Gain:

Each method has its own parameters for whom may make each gain. Additional details are found in the Joint ICR, Statewide and Local Report Specifications and TEGL 10-16, Change 2, p.19.

Method #1: EFL Gain

There are three sub-methods to EFL gain method. Only two sub-methods apply to Wisconsin.

Method 1a: EFL Gain via Pre-Test/Post-Test

• Only National Reporting System (NRS) approved assessments and scoring mechanisms are authorized to demonstrate EFL Gains via pre-test/post-test.¹
• Pre-Tests may be administered up to 6 months prior to program participation.
• Post-Tests must be administered before or on the participant's exit date.
• One full EFL gain is required.
• The date of the post-test must be within the PY.

Method 1b: EFL gain by entry into Post-Secondary

• If the participant was in the MSG indicator and is enrolled in post-secondary education after exit but within the program year.

Method 1c: EFL Gain via Carnegie Credits (Does not apply in Wisconsin)

• The Adult High School in Wisconsin does not use Carnegie Credits. The Adult High School in Wisconsin is certified by the Department of Public Instruction. Its students will be treated as a secondary school students under WIOA Measurable Skill Gain.

Information on the Tests of Adult Basic Education

Method #2: Achievement of Secondary School Diploma or equivalent

Method #2 gains can only be made by participants who enter the program without a secondary school diploma or equivalent.

Method #3: Wisconsin's State Unit Policy for Academic Standards.

Method #3 gains may be made by any participant in education/training however primarily applies to participants in traditional secondary and post-secondary education programs.

1. Background: §677.155 (a)(1)(v) outline the methods to make a measurable skill gain. Among the methods is a Secondary or Post-secondary transcript or report card for a sufficient number of credit hour that shows a participant is meeting the State unit's academic standards. TEGL 10-16, Change 2, p.19 and TAC 17-01 Performance Accountability Guidance reference an administrative unit in each state that provides authorization to postsecondary institutions and a State educational agency that establishes education standards for secondary education. Wisconsin has many post-secondary education authorities that govern various types of post-secondary institutions. There is no single state standard defining an individual's success. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) provides academic standards geared towards compliance by a secondary institution in the instruction of each subject area. DPI allows local school boards to determine academic grade, course pass or fail standards. Therefore, Wisconsin DWD, as the agency responsible for administering the WIOA Title I programs accept passing report cards from secondary and post-secondary institutions based on the standards below.
2. Acceptable documentation: Any reasonable verification of a transcript or report card will meet the requirement for documentation such as an unofficial transcript, online report card or Blackboard printout/screenshot.
3. Secondary School Minimum Achievements
   1. The report card demonstrates satisfactory achievement in all classes by the participant in secondary education for one semester (i.e. report card with grades of D- or higher in traditional grading systems or "satisfactory" grade in non-traditional grading schemes). The semester must be within the program year.
   2. The report card must not indicate the participant dropped out of school, was removed from the institution or other conditions that indicate removal on academic/conduct grounds.
4. Post-Secondary School Minimum Achievements
   1. Full Time Students must achieve a minimum of 12 credit hours (in accordance with the institution's standards) within one semester. The semester must be within the program year.
   2. Part Time Students must achieve a minimum of 12 credits (in accordance with the institution's standards) in two consecutive semesters. If a semester term begins in one program year and ends in the next, the semester is considered in the PY it ends.
   3. The report card must not indicate the participant dropped out of school, was removed from the institution or other conditions that indicate removal on academic/conduct grounds.
5. WIOA Title I providers must record the date the report card/transcript was issued or the completion date of the semester into the Automated System Support for Employment Training (ASSET) for inclusion into the Measurable Skill Gain Numerator. A copy of the Report Card/Transcript must be retained on file. See the WIOA Performance Technical Assistance Guide (TAG) for data entry instructions.

Method #4: Training Benchmarks

Joint Guidance: "Satisfactory or better progress report, towards established milestones, such as completion of an OJT or completion of one year of an apprenticeship program or similar milestones, from an employer or training provider who is providing training – Documentation for this gain may vary, as programs should identify appropriate methodologies based upon the nature of services being provided, but progress reports must document substantive skill development that the participant has achieved. The gain may be documented by a satisfactory or better progress report from an employer or training provider. Progress reports may include training reports on milestones completed as the individual masters the required job skills, or steps to complete an OJT or apprenticeship program. Increases in pay resulting from newly acquired skills or increased performance also can be used to document progress."

Figure 11.17.1: Measurable Skill Gain Method #4, Logic Chart

Method #5: Skill Progression

Joint Guidance: "Successful passage of an exam that is required for a particular occupation or progress in attaining technical or occupational skills as evidenced by trade-related benchmarks, such as knowledge-based exams -– Documentation for this gain may include passage of a component exam in a Registered Apprenticeship program, employer-required knowledge-based exam, satisfactory attainment of an element on an industry or occupational competency-based assessment, or other completion test necessary to obtain a credential."

Figure 11.17.2: Measurable Skill Gain Method #5, Logic Chart

• ¹ TEGL 10-16, Change 2, pg 18; and, https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-19847