HR 5336 — SKILLS Act

(a) Evaluations (1) Evaluations of programs and activities carried out under this subchapter (A) In general For the purpose of improving the management and effectiveness of programs and activities carried out under this subchapter, the Secretary, through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, shall provide for the continuing evaluation of the programs and activities under this subchapter, including those programs and activities carried out under this section. (B) Periodic independent evaluation The evaluations carried out under this paragraph shall include an independent evaluation, at least once every 4 years, of the programs and activities carried out under this subchapter. (2) Evaluation subjects Each evaluation carried out under paragraph (1) shall address— (A) the general effectiveness of such programs and activities in relation to their cost, including the extent to which the programs and activities— (i) improve the employment competencies of participants in comparison to comparably-situated individuals who did not participate in such programs and activities; and (ii) 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; (B) the effectiveness of the performance accountability measures relating to such programs and activities; (C) the effectiveness of the structure and mechanisms for delivery of services through such programs and activities, including the coordination and integration of services through such programs and activities; (D) the impact of such programs and activities on the community, businesses, and participants involved; (E) the impact of such programs and activities on related programs and activities; (F) the extent to which such programs and activities meet the needs of various demographic groups; and (G) such other factors as may be appropriate. (3) Evaluations of other programs and activities The Secretary may conduct evaluations of other federally funded employment-related programs and activities under other provisions of law. (4) Techniques Evaluations conducted under this subsection shall utilize appropriate and rigorous methodology and research designs, including the use of control groups chosen by scientific random assignment methodologies. The Secretary shall conduct at least 1 multisite control group evaluation under this subsection by the end of fiscal year 2019, and thereafter shall ensure that such an analysis is included in the independent evaluation described in paragraph (1)(B) that is conducted at least once every 4 years. (5) Reports The entity carrying out an evaluation described in paragraph (1) or (2) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a draft report and a final report containing the results of the evaluation. (6) Reports to Congress Not later than 30 days after the completion of a draft report under paragraph (5), the Secretary shall transmit the draft report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate. Not later than 60 days after the completion of a final report under such paragraph, the Secretary shall transmit the final report to such committees. (7) Public availability Not later than 30 days after the date the Secretary transmits the final report as described in paragraph (6), the Secretary shall make that final report available to the general public on the Internet, on the Web site of the Department of Labor. (8) Publication of reports If an entity that enters into a contract or other arrangement with the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of a program or activity under this subsection requests permission from the Secretary to publish a report resulting from the evaluation, such entity may publish the report unless the Secretary denies the request during the 90-day period beginning on the date the Secretary receives such request. (9) Coordination The Secretary s...