Appendix A Legislation

Appendix A

Section 172 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998

SEC. 172. EVALUATIONS.

(a) Programs and Activities Carried Out Under This Title. For the purpose of improving the management and effectiveness of programs and activities carried out under this title, the Secretary shall provide for the continuing evaluation of the programs and activities, including

those programs and activities carried out under section 171. Such evaluations shall address--

1. the general effectiveness of such programs and activities in relation to their cost,

including the extent to which the programs and activities--

1. improve the employment competencies of participants in comparison to

comparably-situated individuals who did not participate in such programs and

activities; and

2. to the extent feasible, increase the level of total employment over the level that would have existed in the absence of such programs and activities;

2. the effectiveness of the performance measures relating to such programs and activities;

3. the effectiveness of the structure and mechanisms for delivery of services through such programs and activities;

4. the impact of the programs and activities on the community and participants involved;

5. the impact of such programs and activities on related programs and activities;

6. the extent to which such programs and activities meet the needs of various demographic groups; and

7. such other factors as may be appropriate.

(b) Other Programs and Activities.--The Secretary may conduct evaluations of other federally funded employment-related programs and activities under other provisions of law.

(c) Techniques.--Evaluations conducted under this section shall utilize appropriate methodology and research designs, including the use of control groups chosen by scientific random assignment methodologies. The Secretary shall conduct as least 1 multisite control group

evaluation under this section by the end of fiscal year 2005.

(d) Reports.--The entity carrying out an evaluation described in subsection (a) or (b) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a draft report and a final report containing the results of the evaluation.

(e) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 30 days after the completion of such a draft report, the Secretary shall transmit the draft report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the

House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate. Not later than 60 days after the completion of such a final report, the Secretary shall transmit the final report to such committees of the Congress.

(f) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure the coordination of evaluations carried out by States pursuant to section 136(e) with the evaluations carried out under this section.

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