The following table establishes when Strong Workforce Program funds are considered obligated. As with all fiscal matters, local policies must also be followed.
When SWP Funds are Considered Obligated | |
---|---|
Type of Cost | Obligation Occurs |
Equipment and Supplies | Date of Purchase Order |
Work of Employees | When Work is Done (only payroll for work that falls within the performance period is an eligible expense) |
Contracted Services | Date of Written Agreement |
Utilities | When Used |
Rental | When Used |
Travel | When Travel is Taken |
Conference Registration | When Fee is Paid |
General Questions
NOVA Planning Process
Objectives define the target impacts of your plan and how those relate to your region’s overall strategy. Activities are the tangible steps your plan will take and are connected to specific budget items.
- Objectives define the impacts those actions are intended to have – the “Why" of your plan.
- Activities define the actions you intend to take – the “What” of your plan.
SWP Timelines and Deadlines
SWP 2.0 Funding Year Changes Use of SWP Funds
There are alternative methods of demonstrating labor market need beyond your region’s priority sectors. A list of examples is included on the Labor Market Information tab of the SWP 2.0 Planning Workflow.
- More than 50% of students attained a living wage as evidenced within the LaunchBoard
- LMI library of curated labor market research compiled by the Centers of Excellence and Statewide and Regional Directors for Business Engagement.
- Validated employer input via Employer Survey or Employer Advisory (local or regional)
- Labor market need has been verified through a regional program approval process
- Labor market need has been verified through a regional planning process where this need was an identified regional priority
- The local biannual program review process was completed within the last two years and provides a justified labor market need to expand as well as demonstrates greater than 75% program completion and greater than 70 % employment of program graduates
- Supply and demand data provided by the Labor Market Research Centers of Excellence
Yes. This will take effect at the expiration of FY 2019-20 funds on 12/31/21.
- From 1/1/21 – 6/30/21: You will be able to use FY 19/20 and FY 20/21 funds.
- From 7/1/21 – 12/31/21: You will be able to use FY 19/20, FY 20/21 and FY 21/22 funds.
- Starting on 1/1/22: The 24-month limit on spending from each allocation year will mean that only 2 funding cycles will be available at any one time
As with all CTE investments, colleges should judge the appropriateness of investment by assessing the extent to which it supports the Strong Workforce Program goals. As 888824(5) states, districts must certify that the use of Strong Workforce Program funds meets the following requirements:
- Increase the number of students in quality CTE courses, programs, and pathways that will achieve successful workforce outcomes
- Increase the number of quality CTE courses, programs, and pathways that lead to successful workforce outcomes, or invest in new or emerging CTE courses, programs, and pathways that may become operative in subsequent years and are likely to lead to successful workforce outcomes.
- Address recommendations from the Strong Workforce Task Force, including the recommended provision of student services related to career exploration, job readiness and job placement, and work-based learning.
Colleges should also take into consideration the requirement that these funds not supplant. Assuming that there is a documented strong labor market demand for the program and that the program is the sole beneficiary of the renovation, then this could be a very appropriate expenditure. If the building renovation would also benefit programs that are not CTE or are serving occupations that are not in demand, it would be appropriate to fund the renovation with SWP funds in proportion to the in-demand CTE program’s share of the overall costs and benefits of the renovation.
SWP funds can be used to pay student interns or subsidize wages only if those positions are in support of the administration or execution of a SWP program. For example, if you hired student workers to support your Strong Workforce Programs or if there is a tutoring component in one of your projects, that is an allowable expense.
What is not allowed is the subsidizing job placements or internships not tied to the administration or execution of your plan. For example, SWP funds should not be used to subsidize student internships with local employers or campus activities that are required by the institution. Funding activities that would have been funded by the college historically or are not specific to CTE is considered supplanting. Even though the internship may be through a SWP funded program, the work the intern will do is not in support of the program.
10% Limitation on “Across All Sectors”
Allied Health Reporting (SB 1348)
Short-Term, Non-Credit, Not-for-Credit Courses
- Contract Ed is a vehicle by which training and educational programs can be delivered. Contract training means that the college is being contracted to provide a training that can be for credit, non-credit, or not-for-credit.
- Contract Ed is governed by different Ed Code sections and requires the program to be self-sustaining. The employer must cover the cost of the training including overhead associated with putting on the training. Contract Ed requires an employer or organization that needs to train incumbent workers or new workers to an industry.
- Not- for- credit training is a training program designed by the college in partnership with an employer. The training does not have to be for credit. It can simply lead to training outcomes agreed to by the employer partner.
- The ability to use Strong Workforce funds to subsidize not-for-credit training was designed to increase flexibility for colleges to work with local employers and encourage job training in light of COVID-19 impacts and to help with the state’s overall economic recovery efforts that will lead to employment for individuals who participate in the training.
- Yes, Contract Ed is a vehicle by which training and educational programs can be delivered. Contract training means that the college is being contracted to provide a training that can be for credit, non-credit, or not-for-credit.
- Contract Ed is governed by different Ed Code sections and requires the program to be self-sustaining. The employer must cover the cost of the training including overhead associated with putting on the training. Contract Ed requires an employer or organization that needs to train incumbent workers or new workers to an industry.
Data and Reporting
- When plans are submitted and certified, those budgets are agreed to and finalized by multiple levels of district/regional and Chancellor’s office approval. That approval then becomes the legal authorization to spend the specified funds on the specified activities. Much like a contract would need to be amended and resigned by all parties prior to changing the cost or scope, plans require similar sign off from all parties.
- There is some flexibility in changing plans without un-submitting but they are limited to non-material plan elements such as contacts or success stories.
There are alternative methods of demonstrating labor market need beyond your region’s priority sectors. A list of examples is included on the Labor Market Information tab of the SWP 2.0 Planning Workflow.
- More than 50% of students attained a living wage as evidenced within the LaunchBoard
- LMI library of curated labor market research compiled by the Centers of Excellence and Statewide and Regional Directors for Business Engagement.
- Validated employer input via Employer Survey or Employer Advisory (local or regional)
- Labor market need has been verified through a regional program approval process
- Labor market need has been verified through a regional planning process where this need was an identified regional priority
- The local biannual program review process was completed within the last two years and provides a justified labor market need to expand as well as demonstrates greater than 75% program completion and greater than 70% employment of program graduates.
- Supply and demand data provided by the Labor Market Research Centers of Excellence
Training Resources
- Please look through the training resources on the Vision Resource Center and the NOVA YouTube channel.
- If your institution would like to request additional training, submit a NOVA help desk request and your monitor will work with you to set it up.