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A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.
Summary
This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a formal definition of "evidence-based" for workforce development programs and activities. The definition establishes three tiers of evidence based on research quality: strong evidence from experimental studies, moderate evidence from quasi-experimental studies, or promising evidence from correlational studies with statistical controls for bias. An activity can also qualify as evidence-based if it is grounded in high-quality research findings and includes ongoing efforts to examine its effects. The bill requires states to describe how workforce development activities meet these evidence standards and to explain strategies for prioritizing funding toward evidence-based programs.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN] (R-IN)
Actions (2)
- Mar 10, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. · senate
- Mar 10, 2025 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
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Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 10, 2025
Mr. Banks introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
A BILL
To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to define the term evidence-based.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EVIDENCE-BASED DEFINITION.
(a) In General.—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:
“(72) Evidence-based.—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
“(B)(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.”.
(b) Description of Evidence-Based Programs.—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.”. <all>
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