The U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) have announced a new interagency agreement (IAA) outlining the contours of a new partnership between these agencies intended to streamline federal oversight and administration of education and workforce development programs.

Under the agreement, DOL will assume greater day-to-day administrative responsibility for key ED programs, including:

  • WIOA Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy
  • Perkins V: Career and Technical Education

This collaboration, made possible by an IAA signed in May, reflects the broader federal effort to improve efficiency and invest more resources directly in workforce development. Implementation of the agreement was briefly paused due to litigation but was greenlit following a Supreme Court ruling on July 14.

What It Means for Workforce Boards:

  • Expect more centralized federal communication through DOL
  • Watch for forthcoming implementation guidance from ED and DOL

ED and DOL will issue additional guidance in the coming weeks. For immediate questions, state partners and grantees are encouraged to contact their respective DOL Employment and Training Administration (ETA) ED Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE).

For more information visit https://www.ed.gov/media/document/ed-dol-fact-sheet-110396.pdf.