- Answer: 100/110 = 90.9% CTT to OBS Ratio
Factors to consider when adjusting trades to reach the ratio range include trade utilization, trade performance (e.g., graduation and placement numbers, and long-term student outcomes), labor market data, and similar regional trade offerings.
R2. Required Instruction
Centers must:
a. Provide instruction in the competencies listed on official Job Corps Electronic Training Achievement Records (e-TAR) of the career technical training programs approved for the center. Where training is offered through external providers such as accredited educational institutions utilizing Other Training Provider (OTP) programs, centers will use the Center Information System (CIS) 3G e-TAR for coding purposes only. Centers that have approved OTP programs must input final student accomplishments using the OTP e-TAR code in the CIS3G e-TAR using the Summary, Detail, and Credential Tab. However, all OTP programs must be endorsed by the Regional Office (RO) and recommended for final review and approval by the Office of Job Corps, to ensure that they are comparable to, or exceed, the rigor and relevance of national training programs. OTP programs must provide one or more of the following: a certificate of completion, a degree certificate, or an industry credential.
b. Provide instruction in additional competencies (beyond those listed on officially approved e-TARs) as necessary to equip students with the skills required in specific labor markets. Centers must not delete competencies from e-TARs without the approval of the National Director.
c. Provide instruction related to safety in all career technical training programs.
d. Credit students with acquisition of skills only after they have demonstrated competency in the skills at the level indicated on the approved e-TARs. When work sites are used to develop skills, employers must be involved in assessing student competency.
e. Develop work-based learning opportunities that are related to the career technical training program in which the student is enrolled and are appropriate to the student’s level of achievement, and where applicable, assist the student in meeting requirements of industry certifications.
R3. Assignment to a Career Technical Training Program
Centers must:
a. Schedule students to their first choice of career technical training program, if feasible, when they are determined to be ready for the Career Development Period (CDP), but no later than 60 days following center enrollment.
b. When the student’s first choice is not available, the student must be assigned to a career technical training program that is directly related to his or her first choice, or to his or her second choice, and that is compatible with the student's long-term career goal.
c. Maintain a log of all students not assigned to career technical training programs within 60 days of enrollment, within the career technical training waitlist section of CIS. The list must show the students’ names, dates of arrival, dates of assignment to career technical training programs, and reasons for delay.
R4. Employer Involvement
Centers must utilize input from their Workforce Councils, and other sources such as employers and apprenticeship committees/councils, in determining the content of their training programs, and must adjust and supplement center training programs to meet industry needs.
R5. Job Shadowing
Centers must develop job shadowing opportunities for students that reflect occupations matching current center offerings or provide students with experiences in new and emerging occupations. Using relationships developed with local and national businesses, centers must coordinate opportunities for students to shadow employees at work sites in careers that are related to their career technical training, as well as careers that students are interested in exploring. These opportunities provide students with an understanding of the workplace, a chance to explore new careers, and an opportunity to apply their training.
R6. Work-Based Learning Program
Centers must:
a. Incorporate work-based learning (WBL) as a primary instructional approach into the delivery of applied and contextual training. Note: Examples of off-center training activities which may require a student to be placed on Present for Duty Off-Center (PDOF) include, but are not limited to pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, Public Lands Corps (PLC), and Work Experience Programs (WEP).
b. Implement a structured WBL program that:
1. Involves students in work experiences related to the career field for which they are preparing.
2. Occurs at employer work sites. To the extent, such sites are not accessible, structured on-center work sites and off-center Career Technical Skills Training (CTST) projects must be established.
3. Relates closely with center-based learning activities.
4. Provides reasonable accommodation(s) for students with disabilities, as appropriate.
c. Provide opportunities to ensure that each student participates in WBL:
1. WBL opportunities must consist of multiple assignments that progressively vary in duration and complexity as the student completes established benchmarks in their CTT (see Appendix 304).
2. Home-based WBL assignments are limited to a maximum of six weeks, unless the Regional Office (RO) grants a waiver, as specified in Chapter 6, Exhibit 6-1.
R7. Work-Based Learning Employer Partnerships
Centers must develop partnerships with private and public employers to secure work-based learning opportunities for students at employer work sites.
R8. Work-Based Learning Agreements
Centers must complete the WBL agreement (Exhibit 3-1) with the employer when a student is assigned to a work site.
R9. On-Center Work-Based Learning
Work-based learning may occur on center, with the center as the employer. On-center, WBL must be formally organized and must use the WBL agreement (Exhibit 3-1), the same used for off-center WBL.
R10. Career Technical Skills Training (CTST) Projects
a. Project-Based Training
Centers offering training in construction careers (and other career technical offerings that are eligible for CTST funding, as outlined in Appendix 508, Career Technical Skills Training) must provide training to students in the eligible career technical training areas through work on construction or manufacturing projects.
b. Project Planning
1. Centers with career technical training programs that are eligible for CTST funding must submit an annual CTST plan to the Regional Office (RO) for approval. Procedures for preparing and submitting the plan are outlined in Appendix 508.
2. Upon approval by the Regional Office (RO), centers must implement the approved CTST plan in accordance with the procedures contained in Appendix 508.
c. Safety
Before initiating a construction project, centers must ensure that:
1. The project has been evaluated and a job hazard analysis has been conducted by the Center Safety Officer for possible safety and environmental hazards and their remediation.
2. All students who work on the project are trained in the safety practices relevant to the hazards identified, prior to performing work on the project.
3. All appropriate safety equipment is provided to students and staff, and a copy of the job hazard analysis is posted on the work site.
R11. Monitoring of Work-Based Learning Sites
Centers are responsible for ensuring that students are placed in safe and healthful working conditions at work-based learning locations. However, Job Corps’ responsibility will not extend to reviewing or inspecting private employer businesses for compliance with OSHA standards because this authority rests only with OSHA.
To ensure the occupational safety and health of students at private employer work sites, appropriate career development staff and/or the center Safety Officer must:
a. Visually survey the work site for potential hazards and discuss safety and health requirements with the employer.
b. Ensure the employer signs a work-based learning agreement, Exhibit 3-1, that specifically states the employer will provide students with safety and health protection which shall be at least as effective as that which is required under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C.) and 29 CFR parts 1910, 1926, and 1960.
c. Monitor active work sites on a regular basis. If hazards are noted, the employer must be requested to take corrective action. Students should be removed from work sites where hazards exist that could cause personal injury or impairment of the health of students.
d. Document the injuries of students who are injured on work-based learning sites in the Employees’ Compensation Operations and Management Portal (ECOMP), as they are covered by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA).
R12. Monitoring of Training at Work-Based Learning Sites
Centers must monitor all active WBL sites to ensure that students are receiving quality training in a safe environment. Center instructors and other staff must visit active work sites on a regular basis to:
a. Observe and counsel students.
b. Ensure that the training needs of the students are being met.
c. Determine, in collaboration with the work-site supervisor, what on-center activities might be needed to support training at the work site.
R13. Relationships with National Training Contractors
Relationships between center management and National Training Contractor (NTC) instructors must be governed by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by each NTC and the involved center. A copy of the MOUs between the NTC and center contractors can be found on the Job Corps Community website through the CTT link.
