Eligible Training Provider List Guidance FAQ

Eligible Training Provider List Guidance

• Annual Review & Update of the ETPL. Is this being done now? Will criteria be universal for the state or set by the RWB? Should this be vetted with RWB EDs and DEO before moving forward?

  Federal law requires the State to establish retention criteria. However, as indicated earlier, other than those required by federal law, the State is not prepared to issue additional criteria at this time. In the future, DEO will work with WFI and RWBs to determine what additional criteria, if any, may be appropriate, based on FETPIP data.  (RWBs may establish higher performance criteria for providers in their region.)

• How will this affect students currently enrolled in a program and payment for training?

  RWBs will need to work with its participants and providers to safeguard the participants’ opportunity to finish training.

• Even though certain institutions are automatically eligible under WIA law, should we add clarification that they still must apply through the local boards?

  That is correct, especially in light of the fact that programs have to be individually approved.

• For any approved training providers that do not currently report their data to FETPIP, will there be a grace period to allow them to complete the reporting process?

  Once this guidance is in place, providers will have to begin reporting their student data to DOE according to their schedule.  CIE-licensed schools will receive their instructions from CIE.

• What are the DEO/CareerSource Florida criteria for inclusion on the state ETPL?

  No additional criteria beyond that required by federal law have been established by the State. The DEO will continue to work with CareerSource Florida and the RWBs to determine what additional criteria, if any, may be appropriate.

• Why must the agreements be renewed annually?

  Federal law requires that the approval of providers & their programs be reviewed annually.

• Is starting a business recognized as an allowable training outcome?

  Yes. Two of the outcomes are placement and retention in employment. These outcomes can be attained by someone who is self-employed when they start a business.  In order to record a placement or a retention, the individual has to work and have earnings.  To obtain these outcomes, relevant information must be recorded in follow-up fields in EFM. 

• Given the language in the Workforce Accountability Act, what criteria can an RWB use to determine measurable performance? What performance levels must be achieved and sustained to meet the qualification threshold?

  Performance criteria include: rate of completion, employment and retention rates, earnings, etc. The State has not established any performance levels as of yet. This is still a local decision.

• FETPIP is not readily accessible and is dated (2-3 years old). Is there another way to determine vendor performance?

  State law requires that FETPIP be used to measure workforce and educational performance. Therefore, each approved provider is required to report its program student information to FETPIP and is required to provide their FETPIP data to the RWB. RWBs may use other data to supplement FETPIP data.  Also note that FETPIP is not set up to capture student data for out-of-state providers at this time.

• Some regions deal with vendors that have been placed on the state list without any input from our region. How does this happen?

  The State publishes an Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) - the list of approved providers/programs (those that have been approved by at least one RWB). Each region is allowed to select the programs for their region and pay for ITAs for WIA-eligible clients from that list. 

• What is the purpose of collecting “cost information”? Private training providers may consider this proprietary business information.

  The Florida Workforce Accountability Act prevents RWBs from approving or disapproving training providers and programs on the basis of the cost of tuition, fees, etc.. It does not negate the right of clients to make informed decisions as they choose their training from the list of approved providers and programs. Florida law encourages RWBs to establish training caps based upon the cost of training for selected occupations. FS 445.007(6). Additionally, federal law requires that cost information be made available to the board as well as the clients. Schools that are licensed by the Commission on Independent Education (CIE) are required to provide their cost information to CIE.

• Will DEO notify vendors of their removal from the State ETPL?

  If DEO needs to remove a vendor from the ETPL, it will notify the vendor.  All RWBs will be notified if and when such a decision is made.  If a RWB revokes its approval of a provider or program, it will have the responsibility of notifying its previously-approved provider and also notify the state.

• What does “timely reporting of student data to FETPIP” mean?

  It means the deadlines established by DOE and/or CIE for reporting of data from State post secondary institutions.