A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.

Section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

The term evidence-based, when used with respect to an activity, service, strategy, or intervention, or content of materials, means an activity, service, strategy, or intervention, or content of materials that—

(A) demonstrates a statistically significant effect on improving participant outcomes or other relevant outcomes based on—

(i) strong evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented experimental study;

(ii) moderate evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented quasi-experimental study; or

(iii) promising evidence from at least 1 well-designed and well-implemented correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias; or

(i) demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation that such activity, service, strategy, intervention, or content is likely to improve student outcomes or other relevant outcomes; and

(ii) includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such activity, service, strategy, intervention, or content.

Section 102(b)(1) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3112(b)(1)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C), by inserting the extent to which such activities are evidence-based, after of such activities,;

(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking and at the end;

(3) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and inserting; and; and

(4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(F) a description of any strategies the State will use to prioritize the funding of evidence-based programs through the funds reserved as described in section 128(a) and available for statewide workforce development activities.