Workforce Pell Application Process

Institutions must submit to the Committee information sufficient to assess whether an eligible workforce program meets completion and job placement standards. Students cannot be counted in completion or placement rates if they:

• Pass away
• Develop a medical condition that prevents employment
• Serve in the uniformed services (under Title 10 or Title 32) for more than 30 consecutive days
• Become incarcerated

The following will be acceptable as part of the submission for proof of completion and outcomes:

• A certification from the institution that includes the enrollment total and completion rate within the required timeframe
• A certification that students who completed were contacted and a summary of their outcomes sufficient to prove a 70% job placement rate within the required timeframe
• Self-employed individuals and students who remain continuously employed in the same job pre- and post-enrollment are counted as successful placements
• A certification that state tax or other federal data, for example, through a data sharing agreement, was received to prove job placement rates within the required timeframe

The Committee reserves the right to request additional information.

The Committee will maintain a database of programs, their status and the date(s) on which each program was approved, denied or re-approved for Workforce Pell in New York State.

Programs must be submitted at least ten days in advance of the next standing meeting to be considered at that meeting. Upon submission, the Committee will make all efforts to review programs at the next standing meeting, but no later than 60 days. The Committee will notify the submitting entity in writing within ten days of the initial outcome.

All approved programs will receive the State Workforce Pell Certification Form from the Committee as soon as practicable, with a goal of within ten days following approval. The institution will inform the committee of the initial date of submission, and proof of approval from the US Department of Education upon federal approval of the program.

If programs are not initially approved, the Workforce Pell Advisory Committee will provide reasons why and allow for re-submission.

In line with regulation, without additional authorization, approval expires with the expiration of the eligible institution’s Program Participation Agreement.

If the Governor withdraws approval of an eligible workforce program, the Governor shall promptly notify the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor and maintain records documenting the basis for withdrawal in accordance with these policies.

An institution may file an appeal based on one or more of the following:

• Demonstrated data inaccuracies or reporting errors that materially affected program outcomes
• Documented extenuating circumstances impacting performance (e.g., economic disruptions, public health emergencies, or significant employer partner changes)
• Evidence of substantial program improvement not reflected in the reporting period under review
• Procedural error in the review or determination process

Institutions wishing to appeal a determination should follow the process outlined below. The objective is to provide a clear, transparent and timely mechanism that ensures all eligible institutions are treated with consistency and equity. The criteria used to evaluate an appeal shall not vary based on the size or type of the institution.

The process and timeline for an appeal are outlined below:

• Submission: Appeals must be submitted once within 30 days and should be submitted to [email protected]. They should include:
  • A detailed justification aligned with the allowable grounds
  • Supporting documentation and verifiable data
  • A corrective action or improvement plan, if applicable
• Review: Committee will review appeal at the next regularly scheduled meeting or hold a special meeting to consider the review no later than 60 days after the appeal was submitted.
• Decision: Committee will issue a final determination within 30 calendar days of the meeting. All decisions will be accompanied by a written rationale detailing the evidence considered and the logic applied.

Value-Added Earnings (VAE) establishes a federal tuition ceiling for eligible Workforce Pell Grant programs. Calculated as the difference between the adjusted median earnings of program completers and 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a single individual, VAE represents the maximum allowable dollar amount an institution may charge in tuition and fees. The U.S. Department of Education will publish each program's VAE limit at least three months prior to the start of the award year. Initial VAE calculations will take effect for the 2030–2031 award year to account for the required three-year post-completion earnings measurement window.

To the extent that available data allows, the state may voluntarily evaluate proposed programs using available program cost and wage data aligned with the Value-Added Earnings (VAE) methodology. This framework will be utilized during initial eligibility reviews to informally pre-screen programs.