Under the WIOA rules, students must have at least one PoP in the FY to count on the NRS tables, with the exception of Table 2A. This represents a significant change in how student activity is reported but only minor changes in your data entry processes. If your data is entered in a consistent and accurate manner, the LACES business rules will ensure that the data is reported accurately on the NRS tables for each period of participation.
A Period of Participation (PoP) begins when a student enters your program and has activity, and ends when the student leaves, or does not have additional activity 90+ days after the last activity date. In order for a PoP to populate in LACES, the student must have:
At least one level-defining assessment
At least 12 instructional hours
A student who is assessed, enrolled, earns 6 instructional hours, leaves, comes back after 90 days, and earns 6 more instructional hours in the FY will not be in a PoP because there is a 90+ day gap in activity. Because the student did not have at least one PoP, the student will not count on any of the NRS tables, even though the student was assessed and earned 12 instructional hours in the fiscal year.
TIP: Run the NRS->Student Diagnostic Search to find 'Students with 12+ instruction hours but not in a PoP.'
It is considered a new entry if the student returns in the current fiscal year or returns from a previous FY after a gap of 90+ days since the last activity. This does NOT mean that you have to enter a new student record or update the student's original intake date. Once a student record is entered, you will continue to add data to that record regardless of when the student entered your program. If the student returns after a 90+day gap in activity, you will simply begin entering the new data (assessments, enrollments, and hours). At that time a new PoP will begin. While it is possible for a student to have up to four PoPs within a FY, most students will have one or two.
PoPs can also 'cross' the fiscal year boundary. For example, a student who is in a PoP that continues into the next FY without a 90+ day gap is considered to be in one PoP that happens to cross FYs.
A read only PoP summary record will populate at the student Outcomes tab/PoP Summary/Measurable Outcomes panel once a level defining assessment AND 12 instruction hours have been entered in the student record without a 90+ day gap in activity.
Each PoP summary record has columns that display PoP information, and columns that align with the Measurable Skill Gain rows on Table 4, and the Outcome Measure rows on Table 5. This allows you to look at the PoP Summary/Measurable Outcomes record on the grid and get an idea of how a student will count on those tables.
The area All PoPs Summary is available by clicking the down arrow on the More area. All PoP records will display at this area.
How PoP Data is Calculated: PoP Summary/Measurable Outcomes record
(The PoP Summary/Measurable Outcomes record is located in the student record at the Outcomes tab / PoP Summary/Measurable Outcomes panel.)
How the PoP Summary/Measurable Outcomes record indicates outcomes
Blank
No
Yes
The student is not eligible for a particular outcome.
The student has not been followed up yet for an employment outcome within the follow up period.
The student is eligible and evidence exists for a negative outcome, such as an unemployed work history record in the correct followup quarter.
The student is eligible for an outcome, but one for which there is no way to indicate a negative outcome. Ex. a student is eligible for the Enrolled Ed/Trng outcome but there is no way to indicate that the student did NOT enroll. The PoP column will display No unless the user enters a record indicating a positive outcome.
The student has been followed up for a particular outcome and has evidence to show a positive outcome, such as an employed work history in the correct followup quarter.
The student has a SSD or Postsecondary record as evidence that the student achieved the outcome.