April 1, 2015
Financial Aid
Expires: Continuing
To: All Contractors
From: Mike Temple
David Baggerly
Lucretia Hammond
Subject: Education and Training Vendor Network
Purpose
Transmit the system’s revised Education and Training Vendor Network Standards
Background
Workforce Solutions financial aid includes help with education related expenses so that customers can get a job, keep a job, or get a better job. We provide education related payments through scholarships for tuition, fees, and books at vendors and programs approved in our Education and Training Vendor Network.
The Financial Aid Payment Office reviews, approves and denies vendor applications to provide basic and/or occupational skills training to customers. The Payment Office also monitors vendors and provides them support and technical assistance.
Network Standards and Guidelines
The vendor standards provide guidance on:
· The types of education/training vendors we solicit for the network
· How vendors apply to offer training or education for our customers
· How we evaluate vendors’ performance
· How we remove vendors from the network and how a vendor may appeal such an action
· Special circumstances applicable to education and training vendors
The revised standards and guidelines make the following changes:
- Add an Upgrade Training category to occupational skills
- Make adjustments in how we monitor and assess vendors’ program performance
The payment office continuously adds new providers and programs and makes changes to existing ones. Staff should periodically review the network for updates.
Staff should direct vendors to the Financial Aid Payment Office for answers to questions and concerns related to application procedures, high-skill/high-growth occupations and targeted industries, performance, payments and other issues.
Action
· Review changes in the Education and Training Vendor Network Standards and Guidelines.
· Direct vendors to the Payment Office for assistance with questions and concerns related to application procedures, high-skill/high-growth occupations and targeted industries, performance, payments, and other issues.
Questions
Staff should ask questions of their supervisors first. Direct questions for Board staff through the electronic Issuance Q&A.
WS 15-06 Education and Training Vendor Network
April 2015--Page 1 of 2