US Department of Labor Payment Management System Training - Recording and Presentation

https://octae.ed.gov/announcements/us-department-labor-payment-management-system-training-recording-and-presentation

Colleagues,A link to the September 15, 2025 training on the Payment Management System (PMS) is available here.  The PowerPoint presentation from the session is also available below.  Thank you for taking time to orient yourself to PMS.  Please direct any technical questions to pmssupport@psc.hhs.gov or 1-877-614-5533.  Other questions pertaining to your AEFLA grant can be sent to nrs@ed.gov.DOL DOE OCTAE Grants - Grant Recipient Webinar Training.pdf

U.S. Department of Labor Payment Management System Office Hours for OCTAE Grantees (11/25/25) - Recording Available

https://octae.ed.gov/announcements/us-department-labor-payment-management-system-office-hours-octae-grantees-112525

Dear Colleagues,Below is the recording link from the November 25, 2025 Payment Management System (PMS) Office Hours for OCTAE Grantees. USDOL PMS Office Hours - OCTAE Grant Recipients TA WebinarPlease continue to direct any technical questions to pmssupport@psc.hhs.gov or 1-877-614-5533.  Other questions pertaining to your AEFLA grant can be sent to nrs@ed.gov.

Assistant Secretary Blog on the Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge

https://octae.ed.gov/announcements/assistant-secretary-blog-connecting-talent-opportunity-challenge

Colleagues,On January 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education launched the Connecting Talent to Opportunity (CTO) Challenge, which is a national call to action designed to strengthen the connections between learners and earners by accelerating the development of integrated, statewide Talent Marketplaces.Learn more about this $15 million prize competition by reading OCTAE Acting Assistant Secretary Nick Moore’s Homeroom Blog, available here: https://www.ed.gov/about/homeroom-blog/connecting-talent-opportunity-national-challenge-build-talent-marketplaces.To register for upcoming information sessions about the CTO Challenge, please visit: https://kaptivate.zoom.us/webinar/register/5317660794947/WN_pCml8PtGSJCxmm2jUWOSgw#/registration.

Now Available: OCTAE Program Memo 26-1: Modification Requirements for WIOA State Plans for PYs 2026 and 2027

https://octae.ed.gov/announcements/now-available-octae-program-memo-26-1-modification-requirements-wioa-state-plans-pys

Dear Colleagues,We are pleased to announce the release of OCTAE Program Memorandum 25-6: Modification Requirements for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Plans for Program Years (PYs) 2026 and 2027, issued jointly by the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor on January 26, 2026. This joint guidance outlines the priorities, modification requirements, submission process, and deadline for the required modification of the WIOA Unified and Combined State Plans for PY 2026 and PY 2027, in accordance with Sections 102 and 103 of WIOA. The updated plans create an opportunity for states to align state workforce system strategies with the priorities laid out in America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age.In conjunction with this

About Accountability

https://octae.ed.gov/cte/accountability

Congress made accountability for results a central focus of Perkins V,setting out new performance requirements for States and local programs.These requirements were established to assess the effectiveness of the State in achieving statewide progress in career and technical education and to optimize the returnon investment of Federal funds in career and technical education.Learn more by clicking on the topics to the left.