TEGL 19-22 Guide: WIOA Youth Eligibility & Program Requirements

Table of Contents#

1. What Is TEGL 19-22? Core Purpose & Background
2. WIOA Youth Program Eligibility Criteria (per TEGL 19-22 Updates) 2.1 Age & Core Eligibility Thresholds 2.2 Priority Eligible Youth Groups 2.3 Eligibility Verification Requirements
3. Mandatory WIOA Youth Program Elements (Updated per TEGL 19-22) 3.1 14 Required Participant Services 3.2 Program Performance Accountability Rules 3.3 Work Experience & Paid Opportunity Updates
4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
5. Final Takeaways for Stakeholders
6. References

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What Is TEGL 19-22? Core Purpose & Background#

TEGL 09-22 is the most recent WIOA Youth Formula Program guidance issued by DOL's Employment and Training Administration. It builds on the earlier TEGL 21-16 (2017) and TEGL 23-14 (2014) to address current program priorities. Key areas of focus include:

1. Expanding eligibility verification flexibility through broader self-attestation, reducing administrative barriers for hard-to-reach youth
2. Clarifying guidance on mental health assessment and support services for youth participants
3. Addressing virtual work experience and digital literacy as allowable program elements
4. Aligning program requirements with post-pandemic workforce needs, including growing demand for green jobs, digital skills, and registered apprenticeships

The guidance applies to all state and local workforce boards that receive WIOA Title I Youth Formula grants, which total more than $1 billion annually across the U.S.

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WIOA Youth Program Eligibility Criteria (per TEGL 19-22 Updates)#

Age & Core Eligibility Thresholds#

All WIOA youth program participants must be between 14 and 24 years old, and meet at least one barrier to education or employment, plus low-income status (household income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, or receipt of public benefits including SNAP, TANF, SSI, or foster care stipends).

TEGL 09-22 reaffirms the federal requirement that 75% of all WIOA youth grant funds must be allocated to out-of-school youth (OSY), defined as youth not currently enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary education program. The remaining 25% of funds may be used for in-school youth (ISY) who meet eligibility criteria.

Priority Eligible Youth Groups#

Per TEGL 09-22 and WIOA Section 129(a)(1)(B), youth in the following groups receive priority for enrollment:

1. Out-of-school youth who have dropped out of high school
2. Youth who have aged out of the foster care system (up to age 24)
3. Unhoused youth, including those couch-surfing, staying in temporary shelters, or experiencing unstable housing
4. Youth with documented physical, intellectual, or mental health disabilities
5. Juvenile justice-involved youth, including those on probation or parole
6. Pregnant and parenting youth (of any gender)
7. English language learners with limited English proficiency
8. Youth who are within the age of compulsory school attendance but have dropped out

Eligibility Verification Requirements#

A key update in TEGL 09-22 reduces verification barriers for hard-to-reach youth. Building on TEGL 23-19, Change 1, self-attestation is now an acceptable source of documentation for almost all eligibility data elements:

• School status at program entry
• Date of birth
• Disability status (individual with a disability)
• Pregnant or parenting status
• Youth who needs additional assistance
• Foster youth status
• Homeless youth status
• Offender status
• Low-income status
• English Language Learner status

The only eligibility data element that does not permit self-attestation is basic skills deficient. Self-attestation means a written or electronic/digital declaration of information, signed and dated by the participant. Electronic signatures include emails, texts, or unique online survey responses that are participant-generated and traceable to the participant.

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Mandatory WIOA Youth Program Elements (Updated per TEGL 19-22)#

14 Required Participant Services#

All WIOA youth programs must offer the following 14 services, which TEGL 09-22 allows providers to combine or deliver in flexible order based on individual participant needs:

1. Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and evidence-based dropout prevention and recovery strategies
2. Alternative secondary school services or high school dropout recovery services
3. Paid and unpaid work experience, including summer employment and pre-apprenticeship programs
4. Occupational skills training aligned with local labor market needs
5. Education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation and training (integrated education and training)
6. Leadership development opportunities (e.g., youth advisory councils, community service projects, peer mentoring)
7. Supportive services (transportation assistance, childcare, housing assistance, digital literacy access, uniforms and work-related equipment)
8. Adult mentoring for a minimum of 12 months, during and after program participation
9. Comprehensive guidance and counseling, including drug and alcohol abuse and mental health counseling
10. Financial literacy education (budgeting, credit management, student loan guidance, identity theft prevention)
11. Entrepreneurial skills training for youth interested in starting small businesses
12. Career awareness, career exploration, and career counseling (including labor market information and resume preparation)
13. Postsecondary preparation and transition activities (application help, financial aid assistance)
14. Follow-up services for at least 12 months after program exit to support retention in work or school

Program Performance Accountability Rules#

WIOA establishes six primary indicators of performance that apply to Youth programs, as defined in Section 116 of WIOA and clarified in TEGL 10-16, Change 3:

1. Employment Rate — 2nd Quarter After Exit (for Youth: the percentage of participants in education or training activities, or in unsubsidized employment, during the second quarter after exit)
2. Employment Rate — 4th Quarter After Exit (for Youth: the percentage of participants in education or training activities, or in unsubsidized employment, during the fourth quarter after exit)
3. Median Earnings — 2nd Quarter After Exit (median earnings of participants in unsubsidized employment)
4. Credential Attainment (percentage of participants enrolled in education or training who attain a recognized postsecondary credential or secondary school diploma within one year after exit)
5. Measurable Skill Gains (percentage of participants achieving documented academic, technical, or occupational progress during the program year)
6. Effectiveness in Serving Employers (percentage of participants employed by the same employer in both the second and fourth quarters after exit)

Local areas with a high share of participants with significant barriers to employment may request adjusted performance targets to avoid being penalized for serving harder-to-reach youth.

Work Experience & Paid Opportunity Updates#

TEGL 09-22 clarified rules for work-based learning opportunities to protect youth from exploitation:

• All paid work experiences must pay at least the highest of federal, state, or local minimum wage
• Unpaid internships are only allowed if they are part of a supervised school program that grants academic credit
• Eligible work experience types now explicitly include on-the-job training, registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeship programs, job shadowing, and virtual work experiences
• Local areas must spend at least 20% of their WIOA Youth funding on services that fall under the work experience program element

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)#

1. I am a 22-year-old part-time college student with a low income. Am I eligible for WIOA youth services? Yes, as long as you are between 14 and 24, meet low-income criteria, and have at least one documented barrier to employment or education (e.g., limited work experience, caregiving responsibilities, disability), you qualify even if you are enrolled in school.

2. How long can I participate in WIOA youth programs? Most participants complete core programming in 3 to 9 months, but you may extend participation up to 3 years if you have complex needs (e.g., long-term disability, housing instability). All participants receive 12 months of post-program follow-up support regardless of participation length.

3. Do I need to have a high school diploma to enroll? No, WIOA youth programs offer alternative secondary school services and GED preparation for youth who have not completed high school.

4. Can I self-attest to my eligibility without official documentation? Yes. Under TEGL 09-22 and TEGL 23-19, Change 1, self-attestation is accepted for almost all eligibility data elements, including low-income status, housing instability, foster care history, and disability status. The only exception is basic skills deficient, which requires formal assessment.

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Final Takeaways for Stakeholders#

• For youth and caregivers: If you or a young person in your life is between 14 and 24 and facing barriers to school or work, reach out to your local American Job Center to confirm eligibility and enroll in free services.
• For workforce providers: Use the flexible eligibility verification and service delivery rules in TEGL 09-22 to expand outreach to marginalized youth groups who were previously excluded from programming.
• For employers: Partner with your local WIOA youth program to access a pipeline of trained young workers for in-demand roles, with financial support available for on-the-job training costs.

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References#

1. U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. (2023, March 2). TEGL No. 09-22: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I Youth Formula Program Guidance. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/tegl-09-22
2. U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. (2017, March 2). TEGL No. 21-16: Third Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Youth Formula Program Guidance. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/training-and-employment-guidance-letter-no-21-16
3. U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). WIOA Youth Formula Program. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/youth/wioa-formula
4. U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). WIOA Performance Indicators and Measures. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/performance/performance-indicators