Workforce Pell

Section 481(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), establishes the requirement that an eligible workforce program be approved by the Governor and the U.S. Secretary of Education before students may receive Workforce Pell Grant funds for enrollment in the program. The final federal regulations implement this statutory framework through 34 CFR 690.92, 690.93, 690.94, and 690.95.

Under the final regulations, prior to the Secretary’s evaluation of whether a program is an eligible workforce program, the Governor, after consultation with the State workforce development board, must approve the program by determining that the program satisfies the Governor approval requirements in 34 CFR 690.93(a). The Governor must establish a publicly available process for institutions to request this determination. The process must identify the criteria the Governor will use to determine whether a program meets each required element and must describe the information institutions must submit for review.

Mississippi’s Workforce Pell Program Approval Process is designed to implement the Governor approval requirements for eligible workforce programs offered by eligible institutions located in MS. The process is intended to provide a transparent, consistent, and documented State review that supports Governor certification, Secretary evaluation, and continued program accountability.

Required Components of the Governor Approval Process

Consistent with 34 CFR 690.93, MS’s approval process includes written policies and procedures addressing the following required components:

• The State’s methodology to determine and periodically review which occupations and industry sectors are high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand, including the competencies needed in those industries and occupations.
• The location where MS will make the list of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations and sectors publicly available.
• A periodic review of the State’s list and methodology not less than every two years, concurrent with the development and modification of the State Plan under Section 102(c) of WIOA.
• A written policy for determining whether a program meets the hiring requirements of employers in the high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors or occupations for which the program prepares students.
• A process to determine whether the expected competencies associated with the recognized postsecondary credential align with the competencies needed by employers in the applicable sectors or occupations.
• A process to incorporate direct employer input, which may be secured through the State board, local workforce development boards, industry or sector partnerships, sponsors of Registered Apprenticeship programs, joint labor-management partnerships, or other methodologies established by MS.
• A written policy for determining whether a recognized postsecondary credential is stackable and portable, including documented connections to additional credentials, consideration of real-time labor market information, available data showing whether students obtain additional credentials through career pathways, and employer validation.
• A written policy for institutions to establish that an eligible workforce program ensures that, after a student successfully completes the eligible workforce program and subsequently enrolls in a related certificate or degree program, the student may receive academic credit for the Workforce Pell program toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.
• A requirement that such academic credit be accepted at one or more eligible institutions through written agreements or other documented arrangements, including articulation agreements, transfer-of-credit agreements, consortium or partnership agreements, prior learning assessment processes, competency crosswalks, or similar arrangements.
• The information institutions must submit to the Governor or the Governor’s designee to allow the State to assess whether the program satisfies the required criteria, including information needed to support completion-rate and job-placement-rate review, where applicable.
• A timeline for consultation with the State board and for the Governor’s determination on whether the program meets the applicable requirements.
• An appeal process for institutions that includes clear, transparent, and timely procedures applied consistently and equitably across eligible institutions.
• An attestation that State board consultation occurred as part of the Governor approval process.

State Review and Secretary Evaluation

MS’s approval process recognizes that Governor approval and Secretary approval are separate but connected requirements. The Governor’s certification documents the State’s determination that the program satisfies the Governor approval requirements in 34 CFR 690.93. Governor certification does not, by itself, establish federal Workforce Pell eligibility.

After the Governor has approved the eligible workforce program, the Secretary evaluates documentation submitted by the eligible institution to determine whether the program satisfies the federal requirements determined by the Secretary, including the program length requirements in 34 CFR 690.92(a) and (b), the completion-rate and job-placement-rate requirements in 34 CFR 690.94, and the value-added earnings requirements in 34 CFR 690.95.

For each award year after approval, the institution must submit to the Governor a list of students who completed the program during the award year and the information necessary for the Governor to verify the job placement rate. The institution must also report the program’s published tuition and fees through the process determined by the Secretary.

Value-Added Earnings

MS’s approval process does not establish an interim value-added earnings test and does not substitute a State-calculated value-added earnings amount for the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary. Under 34 CFR 690.95, the Secretary calculates and publishes the value-added earnings amount that applies to an eligible workforce program for the upcoming award year no later than three months before the beginning of that award year, once sufficient cohort and earnings data are available.

Before the Secretary makes the initial value-added earnings determination for a program, the Governor’s certification must take into consideration the cost of the program and the anticipated wages of the industry or occupation. Once the Secretary publishes the applicable value-added earnings amount, the institution must keep the program’s published tuition and fees at or below the published value-added earnings amount for the applicable award year and must provide evidence to the Secretary upon request.

MS’s Workforce Pell Program Policy

Mississippi’s Workforce Pell Program Policy for the 2026-2027 award year establishes the State process to identify, review, and recommend short-term workforce training programs for Governor approval under the federal Workforce Pell Grant provisions. The policy supports MS’s implementation of Workforce Pell for eligible programs beginning with the 2026-2027 award year, including any early implementation permitted under the final federal regulations.

The policy balances three primary aims:

• Align eligible workforce programs with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations and industry sectors identified through MS’s workforce and labor market processes.
• Ensure program quality and accountability by requiring eligible programs to lead to a recognized postsecondary credential, support a documented academic-credit pathway that applies after successful completion of the Workforce Pell program and subsequent enrollment in a related certificate or degree program, and satisfy applicable completion, job placement, and value-added earnings requirements.
• Provide a transparent and consistent approval process for institutions, employers, State partners, and learners.

MS adopts and incorporates the federal Workforce Pell requirements by reference and will administer the State approval process consistent with applicable federal statute, final regulations, and guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

Workforce Pell Implementation Committee

The Governor’s Workforce Pell Implementation Committee supports the development and implementation of MS’s process for reviewing eligible workforce programs for Governor approval. The Committee’s work is grounded in the final federal Workforce Pell regulations and is intended to ensure that MS’s approval process is consistent, transparent, workforce-aligned, and supported by documentation sufficient for State certification and federal review.

The Committee’s responsibilities include supporting the development of policies, criteria, procedures, and documentation tools related to:

• Identification of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations and industry sectors in MS.
• Employer validation and alignment with hiring requirements.
• Review of recognized postsecondary credentials for stackability and portability.
• Academic-credit pathways, including articulation, transfer-of-credit, consortium, partnership, prior learning assessment, competency crosswalk, or similar written agreements or arrangements.
• Completion-rate and job-placement-rate documentation and verification processes.
• Program cost and anticipated wage considerations before the Secretary’s initial value-added earnings determination.
• Governor certification, continued approval, public transparency, and institutional appeal procedures.

The Committee’s recommendations inform MS’s approval process but do not replace the Governor’s certification role, the State board consultation requirement, or the Secretary’s final federal approval process. The Governor or the Governor’s designee retains responsibility for certifying whether a program satisfies the Governor approval requirements, and the Secretary retains responsibility for evaluating the program for federal Workforce Pell eligibility.

Pursuant to Section 481(b)(3)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by Section 83002(b) of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), and the implementing regulations under 34 CFR parts 600, 668, and 690, this policy establishes MS’s process for reviewing eligible workforce programs for State approval and Governor certification. The federal Workforce Pell framework authorizes Pell Grant eligibility for qualifying short-term undergraduate programs that meet federal program-length, quality, workforce-alignment, accountability, and approval requirements.

This policy applies to Title IV-eligible postsecondary institutions seeking State approval for eligible workforce programs offered in MS or serving learners located in MS. For programs offered through distance education to students located outside the State in which the institution is located, the institution must comply with applicable federal requirements, including any required bilateral agreement between Governors. Eligible workforce programs may not include correspondence courses, study-abroad coursework, or direct assessment coursework.

Pursuant to federal Workforce Pell requirements under 34 CFR 690.93, the Governor of MS, after consultation with the State board, must approve an eligible workforce program before the Secretary evaluates the program for federal Workforce Pell approval. In MS, the Governor may designate the Office of Workforce Development, known as AccelerateMS, to coordinate or administer the State review process, subject to the Governor’s final certification and applicable federal requirements.

This policy governs the State Workforce Pell program determination process and establishes the criteria, procedures, documentation requirements, timelines, and appeal procedures MS will use to review whether a program is eligible for State approval before Governor certification and subsequent submission to the U.S. Department of Education.

Governor approval and Secretary approval are separate but connected requirements. The Governor’s certification documents the State determination that the program satisfies the Governor approval requirements. The Governor’s certification does not, by itself, establish federal Workforce Pell eligibility. After Governor approval, the eligible institution is responsible for submitting the program and required documentation to the Secretary through the process established by the U.S. Department of Education. The Secretary then determines whether the program satisfies federal Workforce Pell eligibility requirements.

MS adopts and incorporates the U.S. Department of Education’s final Workforce Pell rules and guidance, including the final regulations codified in 34 CFR parts 600, 668, and 690. MS will revise definitions, forms, procedures, and review tools as needed to remain aligned with final federal regulations, Department guidance, and any subsequent operational instructions issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted to create an independent State value-added earnings threshold or interim State value-added earnings test. The value-added earnings amount applicable to an eligible workforce program is determined by the Secretary in accordance with federal law, regulation, and Department methodology.

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written policy for determining whether a proposed program satisfies the State and federal eligibility requirements for Workforce Pell program approval, including institutional eligibility, program length, workforce alignment, credential requirements, academic credit, completion, job placement or employment outcomes, and value-added earnings requirements when applicable.

To qualify for State approval and Governor certification, a program must satisfy all applicable federal Workforce Pell requirements and any additional State review requirements established through MS’s approval process. A program must also be submitted by an eligible institution and must be reviewed under the publicly available State process established for Workforce Pell program determinations.

Eligible Institution

An eligible institution is a Title IV-eligible postsecondary institution that offers, or seeks to offer, a program that meets the federal definition of an eligible workforce program. Institutions seeking State approval must provide documentation sufficient for MS to determine whether the program satisfies the Governor approval requirements and is appropriate for submission to the Secretary for federal Workforce Pell approval.

General Program Requirements

To be considered for State approval, a proposed eligible workforce program must meet all applicable federal requirements, including, but not limited to, the following:

• The program must be an undergraduate program offered by an eligible institution.
• The program must include at least 150 clock hours but fewer than 600 clock hours of instruction, or an equivalent number of credit hours.
• For credit-hour programs, the program must include at least 4 but no more than 15 semester or trimester hours, or at least 6 but fewer than 24 quarter hours, as applicable under federal requirements.
• The program must be at least 8 weeks but less than 15 weeks of instructional time.
• The program must have satisfied the applicable program-length and instructional-time requirements for the 12-month period immediately preceding the institution’s application for program eligibility, as required by federal regulation.
• The program must not include correspondence courses, study-abroad coursework, or direct assessment coursework.
• The eligible institution must not be subject to any suspension, emergency action, or termination action by the Secretary during the five years preceding the date of the determination, as applicable under federal requirements.

Workforce Alignment Requirements

The program must provide education aligned with the requirements of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations identified through MS’s approved methodology. MS’s methodology shall include the competencies needed in those industries and occupations and shall be reviewed periodically, not less than every two years, concurrent with development or modification of the State Plan under Section 102(c) of WIOA.

To support the State determination, the institution must submit program-level documentation demonstrating alignment with MS’s approved priority occupations or sectors and must identify the occupations or industry sectors for which the program prepares students for employment.

Employer Hiring Requirements

The program must meet the hiring requirements of potential employers in the high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors or occupations for which the program prepares students. The review shall consider whether the competencies associated with the recognized postsecondary credential align with employer-identified competencies needed for employment in the applicable sectors or occupations.

The State determination must incorporate direct input from employers. Employer input may be obtained through the State board, local workforce development boards, industry or sector partnerships, sponsors of Registered Apprenticeship programs, joint labor-management partnerships, employer advisory councils, direct employer validation, or other methodologies established by MS.

Credential Requirements

The program must lead to a recognized postsecondary credential that is stackable and portable, or must prepare students for employment in an occupation for which there is only one recognized postsecondary credential. The State review shall consider whether the credential is recognized by employers, supports employment in the applicable sector or occupation, and can reasonably support student progression along a career pathway.

For credentials represented as stackable and portable, the institution must provide documentation showing connections to additional credentials, career pathway opportunities, employer recognition, and labor market relevance. The State review may consider real-time labor market information, credential attainment data, employer validation, and other available evidence showing whether students can use the credential to advance to additional training, education, or employment opportunities.

Academic Credit Requirement

The program must ensure that, after a student successfully completes the eligible workforce program and subsequently enrolls in a related certificate or degree program, the student may receive academic credit for the Workforce Pell program toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.

The institution must provide written documentation demonstrating that the academic-credit pathway is specific, documented, operational, and accessible to students. Acceptable documentation may include articulation agreements, transfer-of-credit agreements, consortium agreements, partnership agreements, academic crosswalks, prior learning assessment procedures, competency mappings, or similar written arrangements that identify the amount or type of academic credit, advanced standing, articulated coursework, or other credit recognition available and the certificate or degree program to which it applies.

Completion and Job Placement Requirements

An eligible workforce program must meet applicable completion-rate and job-placement-rate requirements before approval and for each year after approval, unless waived or modified by the Secretary as permitted under federal regulation.

For completion, the program must demonstrate that at least 70 percent of program participants complete the program within 150 percent of the program’s normal time to completion. Completion-rate calculations must use the applicable cohort methodology and allowable exclusions established by federal law, regulation, and Department guidance.

For job placement or employment, the program must demonstrate that at least 70 percent of program completers are employed during the second full calendar quarter after program exit. MS may use administrative data, such as unemployment insurance wage records, and where available, interstate wage records or other approved data sources to verify employment outcomes. The institution must provide information necessary for MS to make the required job-placement calculations using administrative data.

Value-Added Earnings Requirement

An eligible workforce program must satisfy the federal value-added earnings requirement once the Secretary publishes a value-added earnings amount for the program. The program’s published tuition and required fees may not exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary for the applicable award year.

During the initial implementation period, MS shall not apply an interim value-added earnings test or substitute a State-calculated value-added earnings amount for the amount determined by the Secretary. The institution must report published tuition and fees through the process established by the Secretary and maintain documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance once the Secretary publishes the applicable value-added earnings amount.

For purposes of the value-added earnings calculation, the earnings cohort is determined under federal requirements and includes only qualifying completers who received a Pell Grant for enrollment in the eligible workforce program, are working during the applicable earnings measurement period, and are not enrolled in any educational program at the time of the calculation. Completers who are not working and completers who are enrolled in any educational program at the time of the calculation are excluded from the value-added earnings cohort used to determine adjusted median earnings.

Programs Serving Students Through Distance Education

Eligible workforce programs are not categorically prohibited from being offered through distance education. However, if an eligible institution offers a Workforce Pell program through distance education to students located in another State, the institution must comply with applicable federal requirements, including any required bilateral agreement between the Governors of the States involved. MS’s approval process shall be applied in a manner that preserves the federal requirement that the Governor assess whether the program meets State, regional, or local workforce needs.

Institutional Submission Requirements

Eligible institutions must submit program-level data and supporting documentation sufficient for MS to determine whether the proposed program meets State and federal Workforce Pell requirements. Required documentation may include, but is not limited to:

• Program name, credential, Classification of Instructional Programs code, Standard Occupational Classification code or codes, and program length.
• Clock-hour or credit-hour breakdown and documented program outline, including a detailed outline for noncredit programs.
• Evidence of alignment with MS’s high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations or industry sectors.
• Employer validation showing that the program meets hiring requirements and aligns with employer-needed competencies.
• Documentation that the credential is stackable and portable, or that the occupation has only one recognized postsecondary credential.
• Written academic-credit agreements or similar documentation showing how, after successful completion of the eligible workforce program and subsequent enrollment in a related certificate or degree program, a student may receive academic credit, advanced standing, articulated coursework, prior learning assessment credit, or other credit recognition toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.
• Completion-rate data and supporting documentation demonstrating whether the program meets the 70 percent completion standard within 150 percent of normal time.
• Job-placement or employment data and supporting documentation needed for MS to verify whether the program meets the 70 percent employment standard during the second full calendar quarter after program exit.
• Published tuition and required fee information to support federal reporting and value-added earnings compliance once the Secretary publishes the applicable value-added earnings amount.
• Any additional documentation required by the Governor, the Governor’s designee, the State board consultation process, or the Secretary.

State and Federal Approval

State approval is required before Secretary evaluation. If the Governor or the Governor’s designated entity determines that the program satisfies the State approval requirements, the Governor or designee shall issue the required certification of approval. The institution is then responsible for submitting the Governor certification and all other required documentation to the U.S. Department of Education through the process established by the Secretary.

Federal Workforce Pell eligibility is not established until the Secretary approves the program. A program may not be treated as federally eligible for Workforce Pell solely on the basis of State approval or Governor certification.

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written policy and process for Governor review, consultation with the State Workforce Investment Board, State determination, Governor certification, public posting, and institutional submission to the U.S. Department of Education for federal Workforce Pell program approval.

Federal Workforce Pell requirements require the Governor, after consultation with the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB), to establish a publicly available process through which an eligible institution may request a determination that a proposed eligible workforce program meets the Governor approval requirements. In MS, the Governor has designated the Office of Workforce Development (AccelerateMS) to administer the State review process and coordinate the documentation, consultation, and recommendation process prior to the Governor’s certification.

The approval process is intended to ensure that each proposed Workforce Pell program is aligned with MS’s workforce needs, meets federal and State program-quality requirements, and provides sufficient documentation for the institution to submit the program to the U.S. Department of Education for the Secretary’s separate federal approval.

Publicly Available Process and Criteria

MS shall maintain a publicly available process that identifies the criteria, documentation requirements, review procedures, timelines, and appeal procedures used to determine whether a proposed eligible workforce program satisfies the Governor approval requirements. The publicly available process shall include, at a minimum:

• The State’s methodology for determining and periodically reviewing which occupations and industry sectors are high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand in MS.
• The location where the State’s list of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations and industry sectors will be made publicly available.
• The process for periodically reviewing and updating the State’s methodology and list not less than every two years, concurrent with development or modification of the State Plan under section 102(c) of WIOA.
• The criteria and documentation the State will use to determine whether a program provides education aligned with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors or occupations.
• The criteria and documentation the State will use to determine whether a program meets the hiring requirements of employers in the relevant sectors or occupations.
• The criteria and documentation the State will use to determine whether a recognized postsecondary credential is stackable and portable, or whether the program prepares students for employment in an occupation for which there is only one recognized postsecondary credential and provides that credential upon program completion.
• The criteria and documentation the State will use to determine whether the program ensures that, after successful completion of the eligible workforce program and subsequent enrollment in a related certificate or degree program, the student may receive academic credit for the Workforce Pell program toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.
• The information an institution must submit to allow the State to review completion-rate, job-placement or employment-rate, program cost, and anticipated wage information required for Governor certification and continued review.
• The timeline for State review, SWIB consultation, Governor determination, and notification to the institution.
• A clear, transparent, timely, and consistently applied appeal process for institutions that disagree with a State determination.
• An attestation process confirming that consultation with SWIB occurred as part of the Governor approval process.

Institutional Request for State Determination

An eligible institution seeking State approval for a proposed Workforce Pell program shall submit a complete program application to AccelerateMS, or other entity designated by the Governor, in the manner and format established by the State. The application must provide sufficient evidence for MS to determine whether the proposed program meets the Governor approval requirements and is appropriate for submission to the Secretary for federal Workforce Pell approval.

A complete institutional request shall include documentation sufficient to demonstrate:

• Alignment with MS’s high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations or industry sectors.
• How the program’s curriculum, competencies, and credential align with the requirements of the relevant occupation or industry sector.
• How the program meets employer hiring requirements and addresses documented workforce needs in MS.
• Direct employer input supporting the program, which may include input from SWIB, local workforce development boards, industry or sector partnerships, Registered Apprenticeship Program sponsors, joint labor-management partnerships, or other State-approved employer validation methods.
• Whether the recognized postsecondary credential is stackable and portable across more than one employer, or whether the occupation has only one recognized postsecondary credential and the program provides that credential upon completion.
• How, after successful completion of the eligible workforce program and subsequent enrollment in a related certificate or degree program, a student may receive academic credit, advanced standing, articulated coursework, prior learning assessment credit, or other credit recognition toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.
• Published tuition and required fees, program cost information, and anticipated wage information for the occupation or industry sector for which the program prepares students.
• Completion-rate and job-placement or employment-rate data, or other documentation required during the initial implementation period, consistent with federal requirements and State procedures.
• Any additional documentation required by the Governor, AccelerateMS, SWIB consultation process, or the Secretary.

State Review Criteria

In reviewing an institutional request for State determination, MS shall evaluate whether the proposed eligible workforce program satisfies the following criteria:

• The program provides education aligned with the requirements of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations identified through MS’s approved methodology.
• The program meets the hiring requirements of employers in the sectors or occupations for which the program prepares students for employment.
• The expected competencies associated with the recognized postsecondary credential align with the competencies needed in the relevant high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors or occupations.
• The program leads to a recognized postsecondary credential that is stackable and portable, or prepares students for employment in an occupation for which there is only one recognized postsecondary credential and provides that credential upon program completion.
• The program ensures that, after a student successfully completes the eligible workforce program and subsequently enrolls in a related certificate or degree program, the student may receive academic credit for the Workforce Pell program toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.
• The program provides documentation sufficient for MS to review completion-rate and job-placement or employment-rate requirements using administrative data, wage records, employer verification, or other approved methods, as applicable.
• Prior to the Secretary’s initial determination of value-added earnings for the program, the Governor’s certification takes into consideration both the cost of the program and the anticipated wages associated with the relevant industry sector or occupation.
• The program satisfies all other applicable federal and State Workforce Pell requirements.

Consultation With SWIB

The Governor’s approval process shall include consultation with SWIB before the Governor makes a determination on whether a proposed eligible workforce program meets the Governor approval requirements. AccelerateMS shall coordinate the consultation process and maintain documentation showing that SWIB consultation occurred.

SWIB consultation may include review of labor market alignment, employer demand, credential value, program cost and anticipated wage information, and any other information necessary to support the Governor’s determination. The State approval record shall include an attestation or other documentation confirming that SWIB consultation occurred.

Program Cost and Anticipated Wage Review Prior to Initial VAE Determination

Before the Secretary makes the initial value-added earnings determination for a program under federal requirements, the Governor’s certification must take into consideration the cost of the program and the anticipated wages associated with the relevant industry sector or occupation for which the program prepares students.

This review does not establish an interim State value-added earnings test and does not substitute a State-calculated value-added earnings amount for the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary. During the initial implementation period, MS shall not apply an interim value-added earnings pass/fail threshold unless required by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance. The State’s review of program cost and anticipated wages is used to support the Governor certification process until the Secretary publishes an official value-added earnings amount for the program.

Governor Certification and Institutional Submission to the Secretary

If the State review process determines that the proposed eligible workforce program satisfies the Governor approval requirements, the Governor or the Governor’s designated entity shall issue a certification of approval to the institution. The certification shall document the State’s determination that the program meets the Governor approval requirements and shall identify any conditions, limitations, or documentation requirements associated with State approval.

The Governor’s certification does not, by itself, establish federal Workforce Pell eligibility. Following receipt of the Governor’s certification, the institution is responsible for submitting the eligible workforce program, the Governor certification, and all other required documentation to the U.S. Department of Education through the process established by the Secretary. Federal Workforce Pell eligibility is established only after the Secretary approves the program.

Public Posting and Recordkeeping

MS shall make the Governor approval process, criteria, and related public information available in a manner that is accessible to institutions, employers, State partners, and the public. MS shall maintain records supporting each State determination, including the institutional application, supporting documentation, SWIB consultation documentation, Governor certification or denial, appeal records if applicable, and any subsequent continued approval or withdrawal action.

AccelerateMS shall update the public posting of approved eligible workforce programs in accordance with State procedures and applicable federal requirements. If a program is removed from eligibility due to State or federal action, AccelerateMS shall update the public posting within the timeframe established by State policy.

Source References for Internal Use

This document was revised to align with the U.S. Department of Education’s final Workforce Pell regulations published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2026, including final rules under 34 CFR parts 600, 668, and 690, and with the Department’s final-rule implementation materials. The final rule uses the term Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA) for clarity and consistency, even though earlier rulemaking materials referenced the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Primary source: U.S. Department of Education, Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Pell Grant Exclusion Relating to Other Grant Aid; and Workforce Pell Grants, Final Rule, 91 Fed. Reg. 29254 (May 19, 2026).

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written methodology and policy for identifying, reviewing, and maintaining the list of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors and occupations used for Workforce Pell program approval.

This section establishes Mississippi’s methodology for identifying and maintaining the list of priority occupations and industry sectors used for Workforce Pell program approval. Consistent with federal Workforce Pell requirements, the Governor, or the Governor’s designee, must determine whether a proposed eligible workforce program provides education aligned with the requirements of high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations.

The purpose of this methodology is to ensure that Workforce Pell-funded programs prepare participants for employment in occupations and sectors with verified labor market demand, sustainable wage potential, and clear alignment with Mississippi’s workforce and economic development priorities.

Pursuant to federal Workforce Pell program requirements, the Governor of Mississippi has formally designated the Office of Workforce Development, AccelerateMS, as the State entity responsible for administering the State review process for eligible Workforce Pell programs on behalf of the Governor. AccelerateMS serves as Mississippi’s centralized workforce strategy and coordination office and operates under the strategic oversight of the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB).

For the 2026-2027 year, the State Workforce Investment Board has identified the following priority industry sectors as aligned with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand workforce needs for purposes of Mississippi’s Workforce Pell program approval process:

• Construction
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Healthcare

Through this governance structure, Workforce Pell program approval is integrated with Mississippi’s broader workforce development system and aligned with postsecondary education providers, workforce development partners, industry stakeholders, and State economic development entities. This structure ensures that Workforce Pell program eligibility decisions reflect verified labor market demand and statewide workforce investment priorities.

5.1 Workforce Ecosystem Framework

To support regional labor market analysis, AccelerateMS utilizes Lightcast labor market analytics software to create geographically defined workforce ecosystems.

Mississippi’s four Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDAs) follow demographic and economic boundaries. Each LWDA contributes to Mississippi’s economic sector strategy, which is informed by the Mississippi Development Authority’s core and horizon industry targets.

While each LWDA maintains a strong overall economic identity, economic and demographic variability exists within these regions. In recognition of these subregional differences, AccelerateMS has established eight workforce ecosystems that allow for more precise labor market analysis while maintaining alignment with existing workforce governance structures.

These ecosystems account for regional variation in:

• Postsecondary education institutions
• Industry concentrations
• Population distribution
• Workforce supply dynamics

This ecosystem framework allows AccelerateMS to evaluate occupational demand with greater geographic precision while preserving statewide policy alignment

5.2 Data Sources and Analytical Framework

Priority Occupations are identified through a quantitative labor market gap analysis conducted using Lightcast labor market data and other relevant State workforce data. The analysis incorporates multiple labor market indicators, including:

• Real-time job postings data
• Occupational employment projections
• Regional and statewide employment trends
• Wage and earnings data
• Workforce supply indicators, including education and training pipeline capacity

AccelerateMS analysts extract occupational employment data for each workforce ecosystem and evaluate projected labor market demand using Lightcast’s annual projection model. This model incorporates:

• Current employment levels
• Projected job openings
• Labor market growth trends
• Worker retirements and occupational exits

Projected workforce demand is then compared with the current rate of workforce production generated through postsecondary education programs and workforce training systems. This analysis produces a labor market gap measurement representing the difference between employer demand and the available workforce supply.

For example, if projections indicate that Mississippi will require 3,000 electricians annually, but current education and training programs produce 1,000 electricians per year, the resulting annual workforce gap equals 2,000 workers. This gap analysis identifies occupations where workforce shortages are most significant and where targeted workforce investments may produce the greatest economic benefit.

5.3 Priority Occupation Selection Criteria

The State Workforce Investment Board adopted a high-quality definition that supports the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Mississippi’s statewide workforce strategy. The SWIB recognizes the importance of defining high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) to eliminate gaps in understanding how CTE supports workforce and economic development and to encourage a transition away from low-value CTE programs.

For purposes of Mississippi’s Workforce Pell approval process, high-quality CTE programs are comprehensive, industry-aligned education and training programs that prepare individuals for high-wage, high-demand careers while supporting the State’s economic growth. Associated programs must align with the priorities of the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board and AccelerateMS by emphasizing industry engagement, workforce readiness, and seamless career pathways.

Mississippi requires that priority occupations be identified within, and aligned to, the priority industry sectors designated by the State Workforce Investment Board and AccelerateMS and included on a State-maintained Priority Occupations List. The list reflects current and projected labor market demand and wage opportunities using Lightcast labor market analytics and other relevant data sources, including:

• Occupation in Demand (OID) tools
• Employment outlook and projected growth data
• Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
• Real-time job postings and employer demand indicators

AccelerateMS applies standardized criteria when identifying Priority Occupations. The federal Workforce Pell standard requires alignment with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations. Mississippi’s State methodology may apply a more targeted approach by considering demand, wage, and skill factors to ensure that Workforce Pell approvals are aligned with the State’s highest-priority workforce needs.

High Demand

Occupations must demonstrate sustained employer demand within their respective workforce ecosystem. Selection parameters include:

• Up to the top 25 occupations per ecosystem based on demand and gap analysis outcomes
• Exclusion of occupations with fewer than ten current job openings

This criterion ensures that Priority Occupations reflect active labor market demand rather than speculative or limited employment opportunities.

High Wage

Occupations must provide wages that support economic self-sufficiency. The wage threshold is benchmarked against the living wage for a single adult in Mississippi.

• As of January 2026, the living wage threshold is $20.75 per hour
• Source: MIT Living Wage Calculator for Mississippi

This requirement ensures that Priority Occupations represent career pathways capable of supporting sustainable wages and long-term economic mobility for Mississippi workers.

High Skill

Occupations must require education or training beyond a high school diploma. Qualifying training pathways may include:

• Postsecondary certificates
• Industry-recognized credentials
• Registered Apprenticeships
• Associate degrees
• Bachelor’s degrees or higher

This requirement reinforces Mississippi’s workforce development strategy of expanding high-skill training pipelines aligned with industry demand.

5.4 Standardized Occupational Exclusions

To maintain methodological consistency and ensure focus on workforce development-aligned occupations, the following categories are excluded from Priority Occupation consideration unless the State determines that a specific occupation within the category directly supports a priority sector and has a documented training pathway:

• Managerial and supervisory occupations
• Government-specific occupations
• Retail occupations

These exclusions ensure that the methodology focuses on occupations with clear training pathways and measurable workforce pipeline development opportunities.

5.5 State Priority Occupation Designation

Following ecosystem-level analysis, occupations are evaluated for statewide significance. An occupation is designated as a State Priority Occupation if it appears on at least four of Mississippi’s eight workforce ecosystem priority occupation lists.

This cross-ecosystem threshold ensures that statewide priority occupations reflect broad economic relevance and workforce demand across multiple regions of the State, rather than isolated or sector-specific demand.

5.6 Annual Review and Update Process

AccelerateMS conducts a comprehensive labor market analysis each January to update Mississippi’s Annual Priority Occupations List. This annual review supports the federal requirement that the State maintain and periodically review its methodology for identifying high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations and sectors. The State shall also ensure that the methodology and list are reviewed not less than every two years, concurrent with development or modification of the State Plan under section 102(c) of WIOA, as applicable.

This review ensures that workforce investment strategies remain aligned with:

• Verified employer demand
• Sustainable wage thresholds
• Workforce supply shortages
• Long-term economic development priorities

The updated Priority Occupations List serves as a foundational reference for:

• Workforce Pell program eligibility determinations
• Workforce Education Training (WET) funding prioritization
• State workforce policy alignment
• Postsecondary training program development

Mississippi shall make the applicable priority occupations and sectors list, or information identifying where the list may be accessed, publicly available as part of the Governor’s Workforce Pell approval process.

5.7 General State Priority Occupations

Priority Occupations represent the full list of high-demand, high-wage, and high-skill occupations identified through the AccelerateMS labor market methodology. The following occupations meet statewide demand thresholds but are not classified within the Targeted AccelerateMS Priority category:

• Registered Nurses (RN)
• Teachers
• Accountants and Auditors

5.7.1 Targeted AccelerateMS Priority Occupations

Targeted AccelerateMS Priority Occupations are a smaller subset of Priority Occupations identified for strategic State investment and program focus. These occupations are selected from within the broader Priority Occupations List but receive additional policy emphasis because they are:

• Critical to Mississippi’s economic development strategy
• Central to industry sector growth
• Facing severe workforce shortages
• Essential to major State initiatives or capital investments

The following occupations are identified as Targeted AccelerateMS Priority Occupations due to their critical importance to Mississippi’s infrastructure, industrial base, and workforce shortages:

• Welders
• Commercial Electricians
• Utility Line Workers
• Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• Water and Wastewater Operators
• Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT)
• Carpenters
• Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (HVAC)
• Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
• Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators
• Machinists
• Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPN)
• Commercial Truck Drivers

Targeted AccelerateMS Priority Occupations and emerging occupations may be eligible for prioritization in Workforce Education Training (WET) funding administered by AccelerateMS, subject to applicable State requirements and funding availability.

5.8 Registered Apprenticeship

This section establishes the policy and procedures for evaluating Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) for Workforce Pell eligibility in the State of Mississippi. This policy is adopted pursuant to the Workforce Pell provisions of the Higher Education Act, as amended, applicable regulations under 34 CFR Parts 600, 668, and 690, 29 U.S.C. 3102, 29 CFR Part 29, and 20 CFR 680.400.

Mississippi recognizes that Registered Apprenticeship programs are industry-driven workforce training models that combine paid on-the-job learning with related technical instruction. For Workforce Pell purposes, Governor approval remains a separate determination. Registered Apprenticeship status may be used as strong evidence of employer alignment, occupational demand, and structured credentialed training, but it does not waive any federal Workforce Pell requirement.

Programs that are part of a Registered Apprenticeship recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency may be reviewed through an expedited State review pathway when the program otherwise satisfies applicable Workforce Pell requirements.

For Registered Apprenticeships, the State shall limit review to verification of:

• Registration status with the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency
• Related Technical Instruction (RTI) alignment with Workforce Pell program length, instructional time, and credential requirements
• Delivery by an eligible Title IV institution
• Alignment with an eligible high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupation or sector
• Documentation that the program leads to or supports attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential, as applicable
• Documentation that academic-credit pathway requirements are satisfied, when required under Workforce Pell.

Only the Related Technical Instruction component shall be evaluated for Workforce Pell eligibility. On-the-job training components are not eligible for Workforce Pell funding and shall be excluded from the Workforce Pell eligibility determination. Programs delivering RTI may be approved if tied to a registered sponsor and if the RTI provides the educational component required for apprenticeship completion, even if full apprenticeship completion occurs after program exit.

A Registered Apprenticeship Program meeting all statutory and regulatory Workforce Pell requirements shall be approved unless the State identifies specific, documented noncompliance. Appeals shall be limited to cases involving denial based on documented noncompliance with statutory, regulatory, or State approval requirements.

Mississippi’s Registered Apprenticeship program is a workforce and leadership development tool that helps businesses expand their talent pool and improve workforce outcomes. The Mississippi Apprenticeship Program may assist employers with planning, implementation, and identification of available resources to develop Registered Apprenticeship programs that meet industry and community workforce needs. Employers may contact apprenticesinfo@mdes.ms.gov or 601-321-6000 for additional information.

5.9 Eligible Training Provider List

Workforce Pell-eligible programs may be eligible for inclusion on Mississippi’s Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL), subject to applicable WIOA and State ETPL requirements. ETPL placement may enhance employer visibility of approved programs and support student access to workforce services, career navigation, and training resources.

Mississippi’s ETPL website contains information about approved training providers and programs. The purpose of the ETPL is to provide customer-focused employment training. Training providers that are eligible to receive Individual Training Accounts through WIOA Title I-B funds are listed on the ETPL.

Training service providers may apply to have new training courses added to the ETPL and may edit existing training courses during the State’s annual open enrollment and recertification period, April 1-15. System administrators may access the database for approval or denial of programs.

Inclusion on Mississippi’s ETPL, by itself, does not establish Workforce Pell eligibility, and Workforce Pell approval, by itself, does not guarantee the availability of WIOA funds for enrollment in an eligible offering. The availability of WIOA funding depends on multiple factors, including assessment of an individual’s employment and training needs and applicable WIOA eligibility requirements.

Companies interested in additional information about listing training programs on the ETPL may contact a Mississippi WIN Job Center.

5.10 Section Summary

The 2026 State Priority Occupations reflect strong cross-sector workforce demand across healthcare, skilled trades, infrastructure, utilities, construction, advanced manufacturing, and transportation sectors.

The concentration of Targeted AccelerateMS Priority Occupations within applied technical and infrastructure-critical fields underscores Mississippi’s strategic focus on expanding workforce capacity in sectors essential to economic growth and industry competitiveness.

Through this structured and data-driven methodology, AccelerateMS ensures that workforce investments, including Workforce Pell program approvals, are aligned with verified labor market demand, sustainable wages, and long-term economic development priorities across Mississippi.

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written policies for employer engagement and validation, credential stackability and portability, and academic credit pathways required for the Governor’s Workforce Pell program approval determination.

This section establishes Mississippi’s policy and procedures for evaluating employer engagement, employer validation, credential stackability and portability, and academic-credit pathways for eligible workforce programs. These requirements are part of the Governor approval process for Workforce Pell and apply to all institutions seeking State approval of eligible workforce programs in Mississippi.

Under 34 CFR 690.93, the Governor or the Governor’s designee must determine that an eligible workforce program provides education aligned with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations; meets the hiring needs of employers; leads to a recognized postsecondary credential that is stackable and portable, or prepares students for employment in an occupation for which there is only one recognized postsecondary credential; and ensures that students receive academic credit for the program toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.

For Mississippi, these determinations shall be made through the State approval process administered by AccelerateMS on behalf of the Governor, in consultation with the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB), and in coordination with applicable State workforce, education, employer, and industry partners.

6.1 Employer Engagement and Validation

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written employer validation policy for determining whether a proposed Workforce Pell program meets the hiring requirements of employers in the high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors or occupations for which the program prepares students.

All Workforce Pell-eligible programs must demonstrate meaningful employer engagement and validation to confirm that the program aligns with current labor market demand and prepares students with the skills and competencies required for employment in relevant occupations. Mississippi may rely on labor market information, employer input, State and local workforce boards, industry or sector partnerships, Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, joint labor-management partnerships, employer advisory groups, and other State-recognized evidence of workforce demand when making approval determinations.

This policy applies to all institutions seeking approval of Workforce Pell programs under Mississippi’s Workforce Pell framework. Institutions are responsible for coordinating with employers and submitting documentation sufficient for AccelerateMS and the State approval process to verify employer demand, competency alignment, and program relevance to the applicable occupation or industry sector.

6.1.1 Employer Validation Form

Mississippi requires Workforce Pell programs to demonstrate alignment with employer hiring needs for priority occupations through a standardized Employer Validation Form or other State-approved employer validation documentation. The documentation must confirm that:

• The program prepares participants for employment in a high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupation or sector identified through the State process.
• Employers are currently hiring or reasonably anticipate hiring for the occupation or related occupation.
• The skills, competencies, tools, technologies, certifications, licenses, or credentials taught in the program align with employer expectations and hiring requirements.
• The program’s curriculum and expected outcomes are connected to actual workforce needs and are not based solely on speculative, isolated, or temporary demand.

Employers must complete the required form or validation documentation and provide signatures or other verifiable evidence confirming the information submitted. Workforce Pell providers are responsible for collecting and submitting completed employer validation materials as part of the State approval process.

6.1.2 Employer Validation Letters

Institutions must submit employer and/or sector-based validation letters or State-approved equivalent documentation that:

• Represent relevant industry sectors aligned to the program.
• Include a minimum of three to five independent employers per sector, unless the State approves an alternative validation method based on the structure of the occupation, sector, or employer partnership.
• Reflect operationally independent employers and may not consist primarily of subsidiaries, affiliates, franchise locations, or divisions under common corporate ownership unless the institution documents separate hiring authority or the State determines that the structure is appropriate for the sector.
• Confirm current or anticipated hiring demand based on competency alignment with the program.
• Are dated within the previous twenty-four months unless otherwise approved by the State based on extraordinary labor market circumstances or a State-recognized sector partnership process.
• Identify the occupations, competencies, tools, technologies, certifications, licenses, or credential expectations associated with the program.
• Demonstrate that the credential, competencies, or curriculum align with actual hiring requirements for the identified occupation or occupations.

6.1.3 Industry Representation

Employer documentation must demonstrate workforce demand validation across multiple operationally independent employers, industry sectors, or employer-led partnerships and may not rely solely on a single employer, affiliated employer group, or isolated hiring need unless the State determines that the occupation or sector structure justifies an alternative validation approach. Documentation must:

• Align with identified high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations or sectors.
• Demonstrate sufficient labor market breadth to support regional or statewide workforce demand.
• Reflect current employer hiring needs within the identified occupation or industry sector.
• Include evidence that the occupation, credential, or competencies have applicability across multiple employers, labor markets, or employment settings where applicable.
• Support the State’s determination that the program meets employer hiring needs in the occupation or sector for which the program prepares students.

6.1.4 Employer Engagement in Program Design

Institutions must provide evidence of employer or industry involvement in program development or review. Evidence may include:

• Curriculum design, curriculum review, or program advisory input.
• Mapping of program outcomes to employer-required skills and competencies.
• Identification of occupation-specific competencies, including SOC-aligned competencies where available.
• Inclusion of technical skills, tools, equipment, technologies, safety requirements, licenses, or certifications required by industry.
• Evidence that program competencies are measurable and align to documented employer expectations.
• Documentation demonstrating alignment between curriculum, credential competencies, and targeted occupational outcomes.
• Competency-level documentation sufficient to demonstrate alignment between program outcomes, employer hiring requirements, credential competencies, and related academic pathways.
• Evidence that hiring demand extends beyond isolated or temporary workforce shortages where applicable.

6.1.5 Advisory and Partnership Engagement

Programs may demonstrate employer engagement through one or more of the following:

• Industry advisory boards.
• Sector partnerships.
• State or local workforce development boards.
• Registered Apprenticeship sponsors.
• Joint labor-management partnerships.
• State-recognized employer collaboratives or talent pipeline initiatives.
• Industry associations or employer-led industry groups.
• Program advisory committees.
• Other State-recognized employer engagement methodologies.

6.2 Documentation Standards for Employer Validation

All employer verification and validation documentation must be:

• Current and relevant to the program being reviewed.
• Verifiable and attributable to the submitting employers, employer organizations, or sector partnerships.
• Sufficient to demonstrate alignment with workforce demand and industry standards.
• Supported by evidence that can be independently reviewed or validated by the State.
• Maintained by the institution and made available upon request for compliance monitoring, audit, continued approval, or corrective action purposes.

AccelerateMS may request additional employer documentation, clarification, or updated validation if the initial submission is incomplete, inconsistent, outdated, unsupported, or insufficient to demonstrate alignment with employer hiring needs.

6.3 Credential Stackability and Portability

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written policy for determining whether a recognized postsecondary credential is stackable and portable, or whether the program prepares students for employment in an occupation for which there is only one recognized postsecondary credential and provides that credential upon completion.

The Governor or the Governor’s designee must determine that an eligible workforce program leads to a recognized postsecondary credential that is stackable and portable across more than one employer, or that the program prepares students for employment in an occupation for which there is only one recognized postsecondary credential and provides students with that credential upon completion of the program.

The U.S. Department of Education did not establish a single federal definition of stackable and portable in the final regulations. Accordingly, Mississippi applies the criteria in this section to determine whether a credential is stackable and portable for purposes of the State approval process.

6.3.1 Recognized Postsecondary Credential

For purposes of Workforce Pell, a recognized postsecondary credential has the meaning established under applicable federal Workforce Pell regulations and may include an industry-recognized certificate or certification, a certificate of completion of a Registered Apprenticeship under 29 CFR Part 29, a license recognized by the State of Mississippi or the Federal Government, or an associate or baccalaureate degree.

The recognized postsecondary credential required under Workforce Pell does not have to be identical to the institutional credential awarded by the eligible institution upon completion of the Workforce Pell program. A program may lead to a recognized postsecondary credential conferred by an external entity when the program provides the educational component necessary for a student to pursue or obtain the full credential, even when additional requirements remain, including external examinations, licensure requirements, supervised experience, or on-the-job learning components of a Registered Apprenticeship.

Institutions must ensure that credential documentation contains sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance with Workforce Pell eligibility requirements and to allow the State to evaluate occupational alignment, labor market relevance, employer recognition, and career pathway applicability.

6.3.2 Credential Documentation

Credential documentation must include, as applicable:

• Program of study.
• Credential name, credential type, and credential level.
• Occupation-aligned competencies attained.
• Alignment to occupations or industry sectors.
• Demonstrated labor market value, including employer validation or industry alignment.
• Connection to stackable academic and career pathways.
• Instructional hours and evidence of program rigor.
• Associated CIP and SOC alignment where applicable.
• Evidence of employer recognition, occupational relevance, licensure relevance, regulatory recognition, or industry acceptance where applicable.

6.3.3 Criteria for Stackability

Workforce Pell-eligible credentials must demonstrate that the program leads to additional credentials, additional education, academic-credit pathways, advanced standing, or other career pathway progression, unless the program prepares students for employment in an occupation for which there is only one recognized postsecondary credential.

A program may be considered stackable if there is evidence of alignment to additional credentials within one or more established career pathways. The evidence must document an operational and demonstrable pathway to additional credentials or educational advancement opportunities, whether offered by the same institution or another eligible institution.

Stackability does not require universal transfer or a statewide transfer guarantee. Institutions must demonstrate that the Workforce Pell program provides a documented and operational pathway through which, after successful completion of the Workforce Pell program and subsequent enrollment in a related certificate or degree program, academic credit, advanced standing, competency recognition, prior learning assessment credit, or articulated coursework may be applied toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.

6.3.4 Criteria for Portability

A credential may be determined to be portable if one or more of the following are documented:

• Recognition by multiple employers within an eligible occupation, including recognition established through Workforce Pell employer validation requirements.
• Status as an industry-recognized credential or other recognized postsecondary credential under applicable federal or State definitions.
• Evidence from labor market information indicating broad occupational relevance.
• Connection to additional credentials or educational pathways, if available.
• Recognition by licensing bodies, regulatory agencies, industry associations, or other authoritative entities where applicable.
• Use across multiple employers, regions, or labor markets.
• Demonstrated alignment to Mississippi’s statewide workforce priorities or targeted industry sectors.

6.3.5 Evidence and Data Sources

In determining credential stackability and portability, Mississippi may consider:

• Real-time and longitudinal labor market information.
• Employer validation submitted under the Workforce Pell Employer Engagement and Validation section.
• Provider-submitted documentation of career pathway alignment.
• Evidence from career and technical education advisory boards or program advisory committees for the occupation.
• Industry certification requirements, licensure requirements, apprenticeship standards, or regulatory requirements.
• Documentation from receiving institutions showing the academic credit, advanced standing, course equivalency, prior learning assessment credit, or other academic pathway recognition that will be available after successful completion of the Workforce Pell program and subsequent enrollment in the related certificate or degree program.

6.4 Academic and Transfer Credit Pathways

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written academic-credit pathway policy for determining whether an eligible workforce program ensures that, after a student successfully completes the Workforce Pell program and subsequently enrolls in a related certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions, the student may receive academic credit, advanced standing, prior learning assessment credit, articulated coursework, or other credit recognition for the Workforce Pell program.

This section establishes the requirements institutions must meet to demonstrate that an eligible workforce program provides a clear pathway for students to receive academic credit toward at least one certificate or degree program after successful completion of the eligible workforce program and subsequent enrollment in the related certificate or degree program.

Consistent with 34 CFR 690.93, the Governor or the Governor’s designee must determine that the eligible workforce program prepares students to pursue one or more certificate or degree programs at one or more eligible institutions, including by ensuring that a student who successfully completes the eligible workforce program and subsequently enrolls in a related certificate or degree program may receive academic credit for the Workforce Pell program.

The related certificate or degree program may be offered by the same institution that offers the Workforce Pell program or by another eligible institution. The academic-credit pathway must be specific, documented, operational, transparent to students, and directly connected to the student’s ability to continue academic progression after completion of the Workforce Pell program and enrollment in the related certificate or degree program.

A Workforce Pell credential does not have to be credit-bearing at the time it is awarded in every instance; however, the eligible workforce program must ensure that completers can receive academic credit toward at least one related certificate or degree program if the student subsequently enrolls in that related program. General intent to pursue future articulation or transfer opportunities does not satisfy this requirement absent documented evidence of an operational pathway.

6.4.1 Required Academic Credit Documentation

Institutions must document:

• The specific related certificate or degree program toward which credit will be accepted.
• The eligible institution or institutions that will accept the academic credit after successful completion of the Workforce Pell program and subsequent enrollment in the related certificate or degree program.
• The mechanism through which academic credit, advanced standing, prior learning assessment credit, articulated coursework, or competency recognition is awarded or applied upon enrollment in the related certificate or degree program.
• The alignment of Workforce Pell program competencies to coursework, credential, or program requirements.
• The amount or type of credit, advanced standing, PLA opportunity, or articulated coursework available.
• The institutional process through which students access the academic pathway after successful completion of the Workforce Pell program and enrollment in the related certificate or degree program.
• How students are informed of the academic-credit pathway prior to or during enrollment in the Workforce Pell program and before enrollment in the related certificate or degree program.

6.4.2 Acceptable Evidence

Institutions may demonstrate compliance using one or more of the following:

• Established articulation agreements.
• Transfer-of-credit agreements.
• Consortium or partnership agreements.
• Program-to-degree pathway maps.
• Course-to-course or program-to-program equivalency mapping.
• Competency alignment documentation.
• Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) policies or documented PLA opportunities.
• Embedded credit models.
• Stackable credential pathways showing progression.
• Catalog language showing transfer, credit applicability, or stackable credential applicability.
• Documentation demonstrating agreement with Registered Apprenticeship programs, where applicable.
• Other similar formal arrangements accepted by the State.

6.4.3 Credit Must Apply Toward Program Requirements

Evidence must demonstrate that the academic credit will be accepted toward meeting the requirements of the related certificate or degree program after successful completion of the Workforce Pell program and subsequent enrollment in the related certificate or degree program. Credit that applies only as general elective credit, without a documented connection to the receiving program’s requirements, may be insufficient unless the institution can demonstrate that the credit meaningfully supports progression toward the credential.

A guarantee of universal transfer is not required. However, institutions must demonstrate that the pathway is specific, documented, operational, and accessible to students upon enrollment into the related certificate or degree program.

6.4.4 Examples of Academic Credit Pathways

The following examples illustrate acceptable academic-credit pathway models. These examples are illustrative and do not limit the types of documentation the State may accept.

Same Institution Credit Pathway:

A noncredit Workforce Pell welding program leads to enrollment in an Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technology at the same institution. Upon enrollment in the related degree program, students receive academic credit or advanced standing based on completed competencies.

PLA-Based Credit Award:

A healthcare Workforce Pell program aligns with an Allied Health degree. Students who enroll in the related degree program complete a prior learning assessment process and may earn academic credit based on demonstrated competencies.

Articulated Pathway:

A Workforce Pell information technology program is mapped to a partner institution’s cybersecurity certificate or degree program. Identified coursework or competencies align to the receiving program’s requirements, and credit may be awarded through established articulation or evaluation processes.

6.5 Registered Apprenticeship Considerations

A program that serves as the related technical instruction component of a Registered Apprenticeship Program recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency shall be treated as meeting the requirements related to education aligned with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations and meeting the hiring needs of employers, consistent with federal Workforce Pell requirements.

This treatment does not waive the remaining Workforce Pell requirements. The State must still verify that the program is offered by an eligible institution, satisfies applicable program length and instructional requirements, leads to or supports a recognized postsecondary credential as required, and ensures an academic-credit pathway toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.

For Registered Apprenticeship-related programs, only the related technical instruction component shall be evaluated for Workforce Pell eligibility. On-the-job learning components are excluded from Workforce Pell eligibility determinations. A program delivering related technical instruction may be approved if it is tied to a registered sponsor and provides the educational component required for apprenticeship completion, even if full apprenticeship completion occurs after program exit.

6.6 Ongoing Monitoring and Corrective Action

Approved programs remain subject to ongoing review for continued alignment with Workforce Pell requirements, including completion rates, job placement or employment rates, value-added earnings compliance when available from the Secretary, labor market alignment, employer demand, credential relevance, academic-credit pathway compliance, and continued alignment with Mississippi workforce priorities.

Programs found to be misaligned with these requirements may be required to submit updated validation, revised documentation, or corrective action. Corrective action may include additional employer validation, updated curriculum alignment, revised academic pathway documentation, additional State review, denial of approval, withdrawal of State approval, or removal from Workforce Pell eligibility, as applicable.

Programs that lose eligibility due to failure to meet completion, job placement, value-added earnings, employer alignment, Governor approval, Secretary approval, or other Workforce Pell requirements may not be reestablished, replaced, or submitted as substantially similar programs in a manner designed to circumvent Workforce Pell eligibility restrictions or accountability requirements.

6.7 Section Summary

Mississippi’s employer engagement, credential, and academic-credit pathway requirements are intended to ensure that Workforce Pell programs are connected to verified employer demand, recognized and portable labor market value, stackable career and education pathways, and continued academic progression after successful completion of the Workforce Pell program and subsequent enrollment in a related certificate or degree program.

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written program determination, appeals, certification, publication, monitoring, and recordkeeping process for the Governor’s Workforce Pell program approval system.

The Workforce Pell Program Determination, Certification, Appeals, and Publication Process establishes how programs are submitted, reviewed, approved, certified, appealed, monitored, and published for Workforce Pell Grant eligibility in Mississippi. This process is intended to ensure transparency, consistency, timely review, and clear communication for eligible institutions, students, employers, the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB), the Governor or Governor’s designee, and federal partners.

This section is implemented consistent with federal Workforce Pell requirements under 34 CFR 690.93 and 34 CFR 690.94. The Governor or the Governor’s designee may not certify a program unless the program has been reviewed through the State process and determined to meet applicable Workforce Pell requirements. State certification does not, by itself, establish federal Workforce Pell eligibility; following State certification, the eligible institution is responsible for submitting the Governor’s certification and all other required documentation to the U.S. Department of Education through the process established by the Secretary.

7.1 Submission Window and Method of Submission

AccelerateMS, as the Governor’s designated State entity for the Mississippi Workforce Pell approval process, shall publish the application window, submission deadlines, required forms, secure submission instructions, and review timeline for each Workforce Pell approval cycle. The State’s publicly available process shall identify when institutions may submit programs for review and the timeline for State review, consultation, determination, appeal, and certification.

Institutions shall submit program applications and all required documentation through the secure submission process established by AccelerateMS. Submission deadlines for the initial 2026-2027 implementation cycle and subsequent approval cycles shall be communicated by AccelerateMS. Applications submitted after the published deadline may be deferred to a later review cycle unless AccelerateMS determines that review is necessary to meet State or federal implementation timelines.

For each program seeking Workforce Pell approval, the institution shall upload the required application materials to the corresponding secure program folder or State-approved submission location. A separate submission is required for each program for which the institution seeks State approval.

7.2 Required Submission Materials

At a minimum, each program submission must include the documentation required by the Mississippi Workforce Pell application and any additional documentation required by AccelerateMS, the Governor or Governor’s designee, the U.S. Department of Education, or applicable federal guidance. Required materials may include:

• Completed Mississippi Workforce Pell program application.
• Completed Mississippi Workforce Pell attestation for the applicable award year or approval cycle.
• Program name, credential awarded, institution name, and institution OPE ID, if applicable.
• Six-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code.
• Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code or codes for the occupation or occupations for which the program prepares students.
• Program length, including weeks of instruction, clock hours, credit hours, and any required instructional-hour breakdown.
• Program outline, curriculum summary, course sequence, competency map, or other documentation showing program content and instructional structure.
• Evidence that the program has met applicable Workforce Pell requirements for the 12 months immediately preceding certification or application for eligibility, as applicable.
• Signed employer validation forms or employer validation documentation required by the State.
• Evidence of alignment with Mississippi’s priority occupations, high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors, or other State-approved occupational alignment evidence.
• Evidence of credential stackability and portability, or documentation showing that the occupation has only one recognized postsecondary credential and that the program provides that credential upon completion.
• Academic-credit pathway documentation, including articulation agreements, transfer-of-credit agreements, consortium or partnership agreements, pathway maps, or similar arrangements.
• Program cost information, including published tuition, required fees, and any other cost information required for the State’s consideration of program cost and anticipated wages prior to the initial value-added earnings determination.
• Completion-rate and job-placement information, where applicable, including information necessary for the Governor or Governor’s designee to make required job-placement calculations using administrative data, such as wage records.
• Data Submission Template or other State-required data file for participant, program, outcome, cost, and documentation elements.
• Any additional documentation required by the State approval process or by the Secretary of Education or Secretary of Labor.

7.3 Initial Completeness Review

After submission, AccelerateMS shall conduct an initial completeness review to determine whether the application contains the required forms, data elements, attestations, and supporting documentation needed for program review. The completeness review is administrative in nature and does not constitute a determination that the program meets Workforce Pell eligibility requirements.

During the completeness review, AccelerateMS shall confirm:

• All required application documents are included.
• The institution appears to meet basic eligibility requirements for State review.
• Program-level information is complete and internally consistent.
• CIP and SOC information is provided and appears facially aligned to the program.
• Program length, credential, tuition and fee, employer validation, stackability and portability, academic-credit pathway, and data submission materials are included.
• Any missing, inconsistent, unclear, or unsupported information is identified for institutional correction or clarification.

Following the completeness review, AccelerateMS shall notify the institution that the submission is complete and will move to full review, or that the submission is incomplete and requires correction. If the submission is incomplete, the institution shall be provided a correction period of ten business days, unless AccelerateMS establishes a different timeframe for the applicable review cycle. Failure to correct deficiencies within the established timeframe may result in the application being deferred, returned without full review, or denied as incomplete.

7.4 Program Quality and Eligibility Review

Applications deemed complete shall proceed to program quality and eligibility review. During this review, AccelerateMS shall evaluate whether the program satisfies the State and federal Workforce Pell requirements within the Governor approval process. The review may include consultation with SWIB, State workforce and education partners, employer representatives, industry sector partnerships, Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, or other appropriate entities.

Programs shall be evaluated based on, at a minimum:

• Alignment with Mississippi’s Workforce Pell Priority Occupations List, high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors, or other State-approved occupational alignment evidence.
• Program length and structure consistent with Workforce Pell statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Evidence that the program meets the hiring requirements of potential employers in the occupation or sector for which the program prepares students.
• Employer validation and evidence of meaningful employer engagement.
• Transparent cost structure, including published tuition and required fees.
• Consideration of program cost and anticipated wages prior to the initial value-added earnings determination under 34 CFR 690.95.
• Evidence that the program leads to a recognized postsecondary credential that is stackable and portable, or prepares students for employment in an occupation for which there is only one recognized postsecondary credential and provides that credential upon completion.
• Evidence that the program prepares students to pursue further postsecondary education by ensuring that, after successful completion of the Workforce Pell program and subsequent enrollment in a related certificate or degree program, students may receive academic credit toward at least one certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions.
• Completion-rate and job-placement information, where applicable, including administrative data needed for State certification during the initial implementation years.
• Any alternative completion or placement standards that may apply under federal requirements.
• Compliance with any additional State or federal requirements applicable to eligible workforce programs.

7.5 Consultation and State Review Record

The Governor’s process must include consultation with the State board. In Mississippi, AccelerateMS shall document the consultation process with SWIB and maintain an administrative record sufficient to support the State’s determination. The record shall include the materials reviewed, the basis for the State recommendation or determination, and an attestation that consultation with SWIB occurred, consistent with federal requirements.

The review record may include application materials, data submissions, employer validation documents, labor market information, credential documentation, academic-credit pathway documents, completion and placement information, reviewer notes, checklists, scoring tools, SWIB consultation materials, and any supplemental information requested or received during the review.

7.6 Determination Phase

After completion of the program quality and eligibility review, AccelerateMS shall issue a recommendation to the Governor or Governor’s designee for official State determination and certification, as applicable. Determination outcomes may include:

• Approved for State certification: The program has been determined to meet applicable Workforce Pell requirements under the State review process and may proceed to Governor or designee certification.
• Conditional or provisional recommendation: The program appears to meet core requirements, but minor issues, documentation gaps, or follow-up actions must be resolved before State certification is issued. A conditional or provisional recommendation does not constitute final Governor certification for federal Workforce Pell purposes.
• Denied: The program does not meet applicable statutory, regulatory, State, or quality requirements, or the institution did not provide sufficient documentation to support approval.
• Deferred or returned for additional information: The State requires additional information, timing alignment, or further review before a final determination can be made.

Institutions shall receive an electronic determination letter or notice identifying the outcome, the basis for the determination, any conditions or required follow-up actions, and appeal rights when applicable.

7.7 Appeals Process

An eligible institution whose program has been denied approval through the Mississippi Workforce Pell program determination process may appeal the denial decision in accordance with this policy. The appeals process shall be clear, transparent, timely, consistent, and equitable across eligible institutions.

An appeal must be submitted in writing within fifteen business days from the date of the written denial notice. The appeal must be submitted to AccelerateMS, as the Governor’s designated State agency, or to the address or electronic submission location identified in the denial notice.

The written appeal must include, at a minimum:

• A statement that the institution is appealing the denial decision.
• The name of the institution and the specific program for which approval was denied.
• The applicable CIP code and SOC code or codes, if applicable.
• A clear explanation of why the institution believes the program meets the requirements for an eligible workforce program.
• Identification of the specific determination, criterion, or finding being challenged.
• Any documentation, data, employer validation, labor market information, academic-credit pathway documentation, credential documentation, completion data, job-placement information, cost and wage information, or other evidence supporting the appeal.

An institution may also use the appeal process to request consideration of a program aligned to an occupation or SOC code that was not included on Mississippi’s pre-approved eligible sector or priority occupations list, if applicable. In such cases, the institution must provide a clear written justification explaining how the occupation and associated program satisfy applicable Workforce Pell requirements, including alignment with high-skill, high-wage, in-demand, or priority occupations or sectors.

The appeal review shall be limited to the written record submitted by the institution unless additional information is requested by the reviewing entity. The institution may be required to provide clarification or supplemental documentation if necessary to complete the review. A final written decision shall be issued to the institution within thirty calendar days of receipt of a complete appeal, unless an extension is necessary due to the complexity of the appeal, the need for additional documentation, or other good cause. If an extension is necessary, the institution shall be notified in writing of the extension and the anticipated timeframe for completion of the review.

The decision issued through this appeals process shall constitute the final State-level determination for purposes of the Governor’s Workforce Pell program approval process.

7.8 Appeals Review Panel and Internal Control Procedures

To ensure that Workforce Pell program appeals are reviewed in a clear, transparent, timely, consistent, and equitable manner, the Governor or Governor’s designee shall establish an internal appeals review process for institutional appeals of Workforce Pell program determinations.

Upon receipt of a timely and complete appeal, AccelerateMS shall assign the appeal to a Workforce Pell Appeals Review Panel. The panel shall consist of no fewer than three and no more than five members with appropriate knowledge of workforce education, postsecondary program approval, financial aid compliance, labor market alignment, institutional accountability, data governance, or related State and federal requirements.

Panel members may include representatives from the Governor’s designated State agency, workforce development entities, postsecondary education agencies, or other appropriate State-level partners. The composition of the panel shall be determined in a manner that supports objective review and avoids conflicts of interest.

7.8.1 Conflict of Interest and Independence

Each panel member shall review the appeal in an impartial manner and shall disclose any actual or perceived conflict of interest prior to participating in the review. A panel member shall not participate in the review of an appeal if the member has a direct institutional, financial, professional, or personal interest in the institution, program, or determination under appeal.

If a conflict of interest is identified, the conflicted panel member shall be recused from the appeal review and, if necessary, replaced by another qualified reviewer to maintain the required panel composition.

7.8.2 Appeal Record and Documentation

AccelerateMS shall maintain a complete administrative record for each appeal. The record shall include, at a minimum:

• The original program application or approval request.
• The written denial notice issued to the institution.
• The institution’s written appeal.
• All supporting documentation submitted by the institution.
• Any supplemental information requested or received during the appeal review.
• Panel review notes, scoring tools, checklists, or evaluation forms, if used.
• The panel’s written recommendation.
• The formal recommendation letter submitted to the Governor or Governor’s designee, if applicable.
• The final written decision issued to the institution.

Appeal records shall be retained in accordance with applicable State record-retention requirements and any applicable federal program, audit, monitoring, or documentation requirements.

7.8.3 Review Standards

The Appeals Review Panel shall review the appeal based on applicable Workforce Pell eligibility requirements, State program determination policies, federal regulatory requirements, and the specific basis for denial identified in the written denial notice.

The panel’s review shall be limited to the written record unless the panel determines that additional clarification or documentation is necessary. If additional information is requested from the institution, the request shall be made in writing and shall identify the specific information needed and the deadline for submission. Failure by the institution to provide requested information within the established timeframe may result in the appeal being reviewed based on the information already submitted.

7.8.4 Formal Recommendation to the Governor or Designee

Following its review, the Appeals Review Panel shall prepare a formal written recommendation to the Governor or Governor’s designee. The recommendation shall summarize the appeal, identify the issue or determination under review, describe the documentation considered, and state whether the panel recommends that the appeal be approved, denied, or returned for additional review or clarification.

The formal recommendation shall include, at a minimum:

• The name of the institution.
• The name of the program under appeal.
• The date of the original denial notice.
• The date the appeal was received.
• The basis for the institution’s appeal.
• A summary of the panel’s review.
• The panel’s findings.
• The panel’s recommendation.
• The signature of the panel chair or designated agency representative.

7.8.5 Final Appeal Determination

The Governor or Governor’s designee shall review the Appeals Review Panel’s recommendation and issue, or authorize issuance of, a final written determination to the institution.

The final determination shall state whether the appeal is approved or denied and shall briefly identify the basis for the decision. If the appeal is approved, the determination shall identify any conditions of approval, required follow-up actions, or documentation that must be completed before the program may be included as an approved Workforce Pell eligible program. If the appeal is denied, the final determination shall identify the reason for denial and state that the decision constitutes the final State-level determination for purposes of the Workforce Pell program approval process.

7.8.6 Confidentiality and Consistency

All appeal materials, panel deliberations, recommendations, and related documentation shall be handled in accordance with applicable confidentiality, public records, and data governance requirements. AccelerateMS shall use consistent review procedures, documentation standards, and decision-making criteria across institutional appeals to support fairness, transparency, and audit readiness. The agency may develop standardized forms, review checklists, scoring tools, templates, or other internal controls to support consistent implementation of the appeals process.

7.9 Governor’s Certification and Submission

Following completion of the State review process, and after resolution of any applicable appeal, the Governor or Governor’s designee may certify that a program has been approved as an eligible workforce program for purposes of Workforce Pell. The Governor’s certification shall serve as the State’s formal determination that the program satisfies applicable State and federal requirements under the Governor approval process, including the requirements established under 34 CFR 690.93 and related federal guidance.

The certification shall be issued only after AccelerateMS has completed its review of the institution’s program submission and determined that the program meets all applicable Workforce Pell requirements within the State approval process. Certification shall include consideration of, as applicable:

• Alignment with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
• Evidence that the program meets the hiring requirements of potential employers.
• Program length and structure requirements.
• Credential requirements, including portability, stackability, or preparation for an occupation for which only one recognized postsecondary credential is required.
• Academic-credit pathway requirements.
• Completion-rate and job-placement-rate requirements, as applicable.
• Consideration of program cost and anticipated wages prior to the initial value-added earnings determination.
• Any additional State or federal eligibility requirements.

7.9.1 Certification Package

AccelerateMS shall prepare a certification package for each program approved by the Governor or Governor’s designee. The certification package shall include, at a minimum:

• Name of the eligible institution.
• Institution OPE ID, if applicable.
• Name of the approved eligible workforce program.
• Credential awarded or credential to which the program leads.
• Program length, including clock hours, credit hours, and weeks of instruction, as applicable.
• Six-digit CIP code.
• SOC code or codes for the occupation or occupations for which the program prepares students.
• Date of State approval.
• Identification of the approving authority.
• Summary of the basis for approval.
• Signed statement that the program was approved by the Governor or Governor’s designee and that the program currently meets, and has met for the 12 months immediately preceding certification, the requirements applicable under 34 CFR 690.93(a), as applicable.
• Certification of alternative completion and placement standards, if applicable.
• Agreement that, upon request of the Secretary of Education or Secretary of Labor, the Governor or Governor’s designee will make available documentation of the State process used to make the determination.
• Agreement that the Governor or Governor’s designee will inform the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the institution within 15 calendar days of the final decision to withdraw approval of the eligible workforce program.
• Certification that the Governor or Governor’s designee took into consideration the cost of the program and the anticipated wages of the industry or occupation prior to the initial determination of the program’s value-added earnings under 34 CFR 690.95.
• Any conditions of approval, if applicable.
• Signature of the Governor or Governor’s designee.
• Any other information required by the Secretary of Education or Secretary of Labor.

The certification package may also include supporting documentation relied upon during the State review process, including labor market information, employer validation, credential documentation, academic-credit pathway documentation, completion-rate documentation, job-placement documentation, cost and wage information, review forms, scoring tools, checklists, or SWIB consultation documentation.

7.9.2 Formal Certification Letter

The Governor or Governor’s designee shall issue a formal certification letter for each approved eligible workforce program. The letter shall confirm that the program has been reviewed and approved through Mississippi’s Workforce Pell program determination process and that, based on the information submitted and reviewed, the program meets the applicable State and federal requirements for an eligible workforce program under the Governor approval process.

The certification letter shall include:

• Institution name.
• Approved program name.
• Credential awarded or credential to which the program leads.
• Applicable CIP code.
• Applicable SOC code or codes.
• Date of State approval.
• Statement that the program has been approved as an eligible workforce program for purposes of State certification.
• Any conditions or limitations on approval, if applicable.
• Statement that the certification is provided for purposes of the institution’s submission to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Signature of the Governor or Governor’s designee.

7.9.3 Submission to Institution and Federal Agencies

Upon issuance of the Governor’s certification, AccelerateMS shall provide the certification to the eligible institution for submission to the U.S. Department of Education as part of the institution’s Workforce Pell program eligibility process. The institution shall be responsible for submitting the Governor’s certification and any other required documentation to the U.S. Department of Education in the form and manner required by the Department.

AccelerateMS shall provide documentation of the State approval process to the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Labor, or other authorized federal entity upon request. The State may also provide confirmation of certification, withdrawal, or continued approval through any process established by the Secretary.

7.10 Publication of Approved Programs

Following State approval and certification, AccelerateMS shall maintain or support a publicly available posting of Workforce Pell-approved programs, subject to final federal approval by the U.S. Department of Education. Public postings shall be designed to support transparency for institutions, students, employers, workforce partners, and the public.

The public posting may include, as appropriate:

• Institution name.
• Approved program name.
• Credential awarded or credential to which the program leads.
• CIP code and SOC code or codes.
• Priority occupation or sector alignment.
• Program length.
• Date of State approval.
• Conditions or limitations on approval, if applicable.
• Status of State approval, withdrawal, or removal, if applicable.

A program shall not be marketed or treated as federally approved for Workforce Pell disbursement unless and until the institution receives the required federal approval or authorization from the U.S. Department of Education.

7.11 Ongoing Monitoring and Withdrawal of Approval

The Governor’s certification shall remain subject to ongoing State and federal monitoring requirements. Approval may be withdrawn if the State determines that the program no longer satisfies applicable Workforce Pell requirements, including but not limited to completion-rate requirements, job-placement-rate requirements, employer-demand requirements, academic-credit pathway requirements, credential requirements, cost and wage considerations, documentation requirements, or other eligibility standards.

For each award year after the date the eligible workforce program is approved, the institution must submit to the Governor or Governor’s designee the list of students who completed the program during the award year and the information necessary for the Governor or Governor’s designee to verify the job-placement rate for that award year. The institution must also report the published tuition and fees for the eligible workforce program through the process determined by the Secretary.

The Governor’s approval expires upon expiration of the institution’s Program Participation Agreement under 34 CFR 668.13. Prior to expiration of the institution’s Program Participation Agreement, the Governor must provide, through a process determined by the Secretary, a certification of continued approval for each eligible workforce program offered by the institution.

If the State withdraws approval of a previously certified eligible workforce program, AccelerateMS shall notify the institution, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Labor within 15 calendar days of the final decision to withdraw approval. AccelerateMS shall also update the public posting of approved programs consistent with State publication procedures and any applicable federal requirements.

Programs that lose eligibility due to failure to meet completion, placement, value-added earnings, employer alignment, academic-credit pathway, credential, approval, or other requirements may not be reestablished or replaced through substantially similar programs designed to circumvent Workforce Pell eligibility restrictions.

7.12 Recordkeeping

AccelerateMS shall retain a complete record of each Governor certification and related approval documentation. The record shall include, as applicable:

• Institution submission materials.
• Application forms, attestations, and data submission templates.
• State review materials, checklists, scoring tools, and reviewer notes.
• SWIB consultation documentation and attestation.
• Labor market information and priority occupation documentation.
• Employer validation documentation.
• Credential stackability and portability documentation.
• Academic-credit pathway documentation.
• Completion-rate and job-placement-rate documentation.
• Appeal records, if applicable.
• Final approval determination.
• Governor certification letter and certification package.
• Federal submission confirmation or correspondence, if available to the State.
• Monitoring, corrective action, withdrawal, continued approval, or removal documentation.

Records shall be maintained in accordance with applicable State record-retention requirements and any applicable federal audit, program review, monitoring, documentation, public records, confidentiality, or data governance requirements.

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written accountability review policy for completion rate, job placement or employment rate, value-added earnings compliance when the Secretary-determined amount is available, data collection, documentation, and continued eligibility review.

Mississippi measures Workforce Pell program outcomes using verified administrative data rather than relying solely on institutional self-reported employment and earnings results. Institutions submit participant enrollment, completion, program cost, and related program records, which the State may match with unemployment insurance wage records through Mississippi’s State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) to determine completion, employment, and earnings outcomes, as applicable.

Workforce Pell programs must meet applicable federal performance standards to be approved and to remain eligible. These standards include:

• A completion rate of at least 70 percent within 150 percent of the program’s normal time to completion;
• A job placement or employment rate of at least 70 percent during the second full calendar quarter after program exit; and
• A value-added earnings requirement demonstrating that the program’s published tuition and required fees do not exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the U.S. Secretary of Education for the applicable award year, once the Secretary has determined and published the applicable value-added earnings amount.

The State’s role in the approval and continued approval process is to verify that the institution has provided documentation sufficient to demonstrate compliance with applicable State and federal Workforce Pell requirements. The State shall not establish an independent federal value-added earnings threshold, apply an interim value-added earnings test, or substitute a State-calculated value-added earnings amount for the amount determined by the Secretary.

All calculations and compliance reviews described in this framework shall be implemented consistent with applicable federal Workforce Pell statutes, final regulations, and guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

8.1 State Data Infrastructure

Mississippi maintains a mature State Longitudinal Data System that securely links education and workforce records across multiple State agencies. This integrated data infrastructure enables the State to track participant outcomes from program enrollment through employment using verified administrative data.

Institutional enrollment and completion records submitted by Workforce Pell providers may be matched with employment and earnings records derived from the unemployment insurance wage reporting system, which consists of administrative records reported quarterly by employers showing wages paid to workers.

To capture employment outcomes for individuals who work outside Mississippi, the State may also use the State Wage Interchange System (SWIS). SWIS supports the administration of federal programs by enabling participating states to exchange wage record data for qualifying individuals. Through this system, Mississippi may be able to identify out-of-state employment outcomes for program participants, consistent with SWIS participation rules.

Through the integration of these data sources, Mississippi can produce reliable measures of program completion, employment outcomes, and earnings growth. This infrastructure allows Workforce Pell program performance to be evaluated using consistent statewide standards while minimizing additional reporting requirements for institutions.

8.2 Measurement Principles

Outcome calculations are performed using privacy-protected administrative datasets within Mississippi’s SLDS. Individual-level earnings records remain confidential and are used only to produce aggregated program-level performance measures for program evaluation and accountability.

This framework provides a consistent statewide methodology for measuring Workforce Pell program outcomes while minimizing additional reporting requirements for institutions.

All calculations described in this framework are implemented consistent with applicable federal Workforce Pell statutes, regulations, and guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education.

The exclusion of a student from one accountability metric shall not be interpreted as an exclusion from another accountability metric unless such exclusion is expressly provided by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance.

8.3 State Certification and Federal Submission Process

An institution seeking Workforce Pell eligibility for an eligible workforce program must obtain approval through both the State/Governor approval process and the U.S. Secretary of Education’s approval process.

The Governor’s approval occurs before the Secretary’s evaluation. In Mississippi, the Governor or the Governor’s designated entity shall review the eligible workforce program through the State approval process to determine whether the program satisfies State-facing Workforce Pell requirements, including alignment with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations, employer hiring needs, credential portability or stackability, and academic credit requirements.

Upon approval through the State process, the Governor or the Governor’s designated entity shall issue a certification of approval to the institution. The Governor’s certification documents the State’s determination that the program satisfies the Governor approval requirements. The Governor’s certification does not, by itself, establish federal Workforce Pell eligibility.

Following receipt of the Governor’s certification, the institution is responsible for submitting the eligible workforce program to the U.S. Department of Education through the process established by the Secretary. The institution shall include the Governor’s certification, along with all other documentation required by the Secretary, in its submission for federal Workforce Pell program approval.

The Secretary evaluates the program based on documentation submitted by the eligible institution and determines whether the program satisfies applicable federal requirements, including instructional time, clock-hour or credit-hour requirements, completion rate requirements, job placement or employment rate requirements, and value-added earnings requirements.

For purposes of continued eligibility, the institution must maintain both State/Governor approval and federal approval by the Secretary. Governor approval expires upon expiration of the eligible institution’s Program Participation Agreement. The institution must seek Governor reapproval before the expiration of its Program Participation Agreement in order to maintain State approval for the eligible workforce program.

8.4 Data Collection

Workforce Pell outcome measurement begins with the collection of participant-level program data from institutions offering eligible workforce programs. Institutions must submit a complete participant record for each individual enrolled in a Workforce Pell program.

Participant records provide the foundational information required to measure program completion, employment outcomes, and earnings. These records are securely transmitted to the State and integrated into Mississippi’s SLDS, as applicable.

Institutions report only the information necessary to support outcome calculations, compliance verification, and required reporting. Employment and earnings outcomes may be calculated by the State using administrative wage records, where available, and by the Secretary using federal or other approved data sources, as applicable.

Each participant record must include, at a minimum, the following core elements:

Participant Identifiers

• Social Security number;
• First name;
• Last name;
• Date of birth.

These identifiers are required to match participant records with administrative wage data used to measure employment and earnings outcomes.

Program Enrollment Information

• Institution identifier;
• Program identifier;
• Program name;
• Credential associated with the program;
• Classification of Instructional Programs code;
• Standard Occupational Classification code or codes, as applicable;
• Date entered program;
• Enrollment status;
• Completion status;
• Completion date, if applicable;
• Credential attained, if applicable;
• Program length, including normal time to completion.

Program Cost Information

• Published tuition charges;
• Required fees;
• Total published tuition and required fees;
• Any other cost information required by the Secretary or the State approval process.

Withdrawal Information, if Applicable

• Last date of attendance;
• Withdrawal date, if applicable;
• Basis for withdrawal;
• Identification of any applicable statutory exclusion.

Institutions must identify statutory exclusions when reporting withdrawal or noncompletion information. Statutory exclusions include participants who die, experience a disabling medical condition that prevents employment, enter active military service for more than 30 days, or become incarcerated. Participants meeting these conditions shall be excluded from completion and employment rate calculations to the extent permitted or required by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance.

8.4.1 Program Exit Definition

For purposes of outcome measurement, program exit shall be determined as follows:

• For a student who completes the program, program exit is the student’s completion date.
• For a student who does not complete the program, program exit is the student’s last date of attendance or other federally recognized exit date, as applicable.

Institutions shall maintain documentation supporting the program exit date used for each participant or completer included in an accountability metric.

8.4.2 Data Integration

After institutional participant records are collected, the State may integrate these records with administrative wage data to measure employment and earnings outcomes. Data integration occurs within Mississippi’s SLDS, which securely links education and workforce datasets.

Participant identifiers provided by institutions are used to match program enrollment records with the administrative wage record datasets described in the State Data Infrastructure section.

These records allow the State to determine whether Workforce Pell participants are employed after completing training and to calculate post-program earnings measures, where applicable.

Interstate wage records may be incorporated through SWIS, as described above.

Following the matching process, the combined institutional and wage record dataset may be used to calculate program-level outcome indicators. Individual-level earnings records remain confidential and are used only to produce aggregated statistics for program evaluation and reporting.

8.5 Federal Workforce Pell Performance Measures

Workforce Pell programs are evaluated using three core outcome measures required under federal Workforce Pell accountability standards. These measures assess whether programs produce successful completion outcomes, lead to employment, and generate measurable economic value for participants.

The three core measures are:

• Completion rate;
• Job placement or employment rate; and
• Value-added earnings compliance, once the Secretary has determined and published the applicable value-added earnings amount.

These measures reflect the performance thresholds established under Workforce Pell program eligibility requirements and are used to determine whether training programs are eligible to participate, continue participation, or be removed from participation in the Workforce Pell program.

Each outcome measure is calculated or verified using the standardized cohort, administrative data, wage record, and federal methodology described in this section and in applicable Department guidance.

During the initial implementation period, the State shall not apply an interim value-added earnings test or substitute a State-calculated value-added earnings amount for the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary. Completion rate and job placement or employment rate requirements shall be reviewed in accordance with the Governor certification process and applicable Department requirements during the initial implementation period.

8.6 Completion Rate

Purpose

The completion rate measures the percentage of program participants who successfully complete the eligible workforce program within the federally required timeframe.

Standard

An eligible workforce program must demonstrate that at least 70 percent of program participants complete the program within 150 percent of the program’s normal time to completion.

Cohort Used for the Completion Rate Determination

For purposes of calculating the completion rate, the cohort shall include program participants who entered the eligible workforce program during the applicable award year or cohort period and who are subject to the completion rate calculation under federal requirements.

Adjusted Cohort Size equals the total number of participants who entered the program during the specified award year or cohort period minus allowable statutory exclusions.

Currently enrolled students shall not be excluded from the completion rate calculation solely because they remain enrolled. The treatment of currently enrolled students shall depend on whether the student has reached the end of the 150 percent normal-time completion window.

A student who remains enrolled and has not yet reached the end of the 150 percent normal-time completion window shall continue to be tracked until the completion window closes.

A student who does not complete the program within 150 percent of the program’s normal time to completion shall be treated as a non-completer for that cohort, unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance provides otherwise.

Determining the 150 Percent Completion Window

The institution shall identify the normal time to completion for the eligible workforce program based on the program’s approved length, instructional weeks, clock hours, credit hours, or other applicable measure.

The 150 percent completion window shall be calculated by multiplying the program’s normal time to completion by 1.5. Completion must occur within that calculated timeframe for the student to be counted as a completer for purposes of the completion rate.

For example, if the program’s normal time to completion is 10 weeks, the 150 percent completion window is 15 weeks. A student who completes the program within 15 weeks may be counted as a completer. A student who does not complete the program within 15 weeks shall not be counted as a completer for that cohort, unless otherwise permitted by federal requirements.

Calculation

Completion Rate = Number of Participants Who Completed Within 150 Percent of Normal Time ÷ Adjusted Cohort Size

Methodology

The completion rate is calculated by dividing the number of participants who complete the eligible workforce program and earn the recognized postsecondary credential associated with the program within 150 percent of normal time by the Adjusted Cohort Size.

The institution shall maintain accurate enrollment, completion, withdrawal, and program-length records necessary to determine the completion rate. The institution shall identify the applicable participant cohort, determine whether each participant completed within 150 percent of normal time, and submit documentation sufficient for the reviewing entity to verify the completion rate calculation.

The reviewing entity shall verify whether the institution’s submitted data and supporting documentation demonstrate that the program meets the required completion rate standard. The reviewing entity may request additional records, cohort documentation, completion data, withdrawal data, or clarification if the submitted information is incomplete, inconsistent, or insufficient to verify compliance.

Review Procedure

To verify compliance with the completion rate requirement, the reviewing entity shall:

• Confirm the program’s approved normal time to completion;
• Confirm the 150 percent normal-time completion window;
• Identify the applicable cohort of program participants;
• Verify the number of students in the cohort who completed the program within 150 percent of normal time;
• Verify the number of students in the cohort who did not complete the program within 150 percent of normal time;
• Confirm the status of students who remain enrolled but have not yet reached the end of the 150 percent completion window;
• Calculate or verify the completion rate using the institution’s submitted data;
• Determine whether the calculated completion rate is at least 70 percent.

Determination

The program satisfies the completion rate requirement if at least 70 percent of program participants complete the program within 150 percent of the program’s normal time to completion.

The program does not satisfy the completion rate requirement if fewer than 70 percent of program participants complete the program within 150 percent of the program’s normal time to completion, unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance provides otherwise.

8.7 Job Placement or Employment Rate

Purpose

The job placement or employment rate measures whether program completers obtain employment following program exit.

Standard

An eligible workforce program must demonstrate that at least 70 percent of program completers are employed during the second full calendar quarter after program exit.

Cohort Used for the Job Placement or Employment Rate Determination

For purposes of calculating the job placement or employment rate, the cohort shall include students who completed the eligible workforce program during the applicable cohort period and who are subject to the employment rate calculation under federal requirements.

A student’s enrollment in another educational program after completion of the eligible workforce program does not, by itself, exclude the student from the job placement or employment rate calculation unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance provides otherwise.

Measurement Timing

Employment is measured using the second full calendar quarter following program exit.

Methodology

Employment outcomes are determined by matching participant records with administrative wage data. Mississippi uses unemployment insurance wage records through the SLDS and, where available, interstate wage records through SWIS.

A program completer is counted as employed if wage records show positive wages greater than $0 during the second full calendar quarter following program exit.

Program completers without matching wage records during the measurement quarter are treated as not employed for purposes of the employment calculation, unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance provides otherwise.

Calculation

Job Placement or Employment Rate = Number of Program Completers Employed During the Second Full Calendar Quarter After Program Exit ÷ Total Number of Program Completers in the Employment Rate Cohort

Responsibility of the Institution

The institution is responsible for maintaining accurate completion, exit, employment, and placement records necessary to support the job placement or employment rate calculation.

The institution shall identify the applicable cohort of program completers, determine each completer’s program exit date, identify the applicable second full calendar quarter after exit, and submit documentation sufficient for the reviewing entity to verify the employment outcome.

Responsibility of the Reviewing Entity

The reviewing entity shall verify whether the institution’s submitted data and supporting documentation demonstrate that the program meets the required job placement or employment rate standard.

The reviewing entity may request additional records, employment documentation, wage record information, employer verification, or clarification if the submitted information is incomplete, inconsistent, or insufficient to verify compliance.

Review Procedure

To verify compliance with the job placement or employment rate requirement, the reviewing entity shall:

• Identify the applicable cohort of students who completed the eligible workforce program;
• Confirm each completer’s program exit date;
• Identify the second full calendar quarter after program exit for each completer or for the cohort, as applicable;
• Determine whether each completer was employed during the second full calendar quarter after program exit using approved employment or wage data sources;
• Verify the number of completers employed during the second full calendar quarter after program exit;
• Verify the total number of completers in the applicable job placement or employment rate cohort;
• Calculate or verify the job placement or employment rate using the institution’s submitted data;
• Determine whether the calculated job placement or employment rate is at least 70 percent.

Determination

The program satisfies the job placement or employment rate requirement if at least 70 percent of program completers are employed during the second full calendar quarter after program exit.

The program does not satisfy the job placement or employment rate requirement if fewer than 70 percent of program completers are employed during the second full calendar quarter after program exit, unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance provides otherwise.

8.7.1 Value-Added Earnings Requirement

Purpose

The value-added earnings requirement determines whether the earnings outcomes associated with an eligible workforce program justify the cost of training for students. The requirement is intended to ensure that the program’s total published tuition and required fees do not exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the U.S. Secretary of Education for the applicable award year, once an official value-added earnings amount is available for the program.

Standard

An eligible workforce program must satisfy the federal value-added earnings requirement. For purposes of this requirement, the program’s total published tuition and required fees may not exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary for the applicable award year.

The value-added earnings amount is determined by the Secretary in accordance with federal law, regulation, and Department-established methodology. The reviewing entity shall not independently establish, calculate, apply an interim test for, or substitute its own value-added earnings threshold for the federal value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary.

No Interim Value-Added Earnings Test

Because the value-added earnings calculation requires sufficient completion and earnings data, an official value-added earnings amount may not be available for a newly approved eligible workforce program during the initial implementation period. No interim value-added earnings test shall be applied by the State during this period unless required by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance.

During the initial implementation period, the State shall not apply an interim value-added earnings test or substitute a State-calculated value-added earnings amount for the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary. The institution shall report published tuition and required fees through the process established by the Secretary and shall maintain documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance once the Secretary publishes the applicable value-added earnings amount.

Once the Secretary publishes the value-added earnings amount for the program, the institution must ensure that the program’s published tuition and required fees do not exceed the published value-added earnings amount for the applicable award year.

Responsibility of the Secretary

The Secretary is responsible for determining and publishing the value-added earnings amount for an eligible workforce program using the data and methodology established under federal requirements.

The Secretary may use institutional completion data, earnings data obtained through federal or approved data sources, applicable poverty guideline information, regional price parity adjustments, and any other required data elements to determine the program’s value-added earnings amount.

The Secretary will publish the value-added earnings amount that applies to an eligible workforce program for the upcoming award year no later than three months before the beginning of that award year, unless otherwise provided by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance.

Responsibility of the Institution

The institution is responsible for submitting all data and information required by the Secretary, including student completion data, program information, and published tuition and required fee information, through the process established by the Department.

The institution is also responsible for ensuring that the program’s total published tuition and required fees do not exceed the value-added earnings amount determined, published, or otherwise provided by the Secretary for the applicable award year once that amount is available.

Upon request, the institution shall provide documentation demonstrating that the program’s published tuition and required fees are at or below the applicable value-added earnings amount.

Responsibility of the Reviewing Entity

As part of the State approval or continued approval process, the reviewing entity shall verify that the institution has provided documentation sufficient to demonstrate compliance with applicable value-added earnings requirements once the Secretary-determined value-added earnings amount is available.

The reviewing entity’s role is to confirm and document whether the institution has demonstrated that the program’s published tuition and required fees do not exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary for the applicable award year. The reviewing entity shall not create an independent value-added earnings threshold, apply a different methodology, apply an interim value-added earnings test, or substitute a State-calculated amount for the federal value-added earnings amount.

Cohort Used for the Value-Added Earnings Determination

For purposes of the value-added earnings calculation, the earnings cohort is determined in accordance with federal requirements. At a minimum, the value-added earnings cohort includes only students who meet all of the following criteria:

• Received a Pell Grant for enrollment in the eligible workforce program;
• Completed the eligible workforce program during the applicable cohort period;
• Were working during the applicable earnings measurement period;
• Were not enrolled in any educational program at the time of the calculation.

Students who are enrolled in any educational program at the time of the value-added earnings calculation shall be excluded from the value-added earnings cohort. These students shall not be included in the cohort used to determine the adjusted median earnings of qualifying completers for the value-added earnings test.

Completers who are not working during the applicable earnings measurement period shall also be excluded from the value-added earnings cohort used to determine adjusted median earnings, unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance provides otherwise.

This exclusion applies to the value-added earnings assessment and shall not be applied to the completion rate or job placement or employment rate calculations unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance expressly provides otherwise.

Methodology

The value-added earnings amount is determined by calculating the difference between the adjusted median earnings of qualifying student completers during the applicable earnings measurement period and 150 percent of the U.S. poverty guideline applicable to a single individual for the relevant tax year.

The adjusted median earnings used in the value-added earnings calculation shall be based only on qualifying completers who are working and who are not enrolled in any educational program at the time of the calculation.

For State approval and continued approval purposes, the State shall verify institutional compliance with the federal value-added earnings requirement by reviewing documentation showing that the program’s published tuition and required fees do not exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary, once that amount is available.

Review Procedure

To verify compliance with the value-added earnings requirement, the reviewing entity shall:

• Confirm that the institution has identified the applicable award year or reporting period;
• Confirm that the institution has submitted or will submit all required data to the Secretary through the applicable Department process;
• Confirm the program’s total published tuition and required fees for the applicable award year or reporting period;
• Review the value-added earnings amount determined, published, or otherwise provided by the Secretary for the program, if available;
• Verify whether the program’s total published tuition and required fees are less than or equal to the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary once that amount is available;
• Confirm that students enrolled in any educational program at the time of the value-added earnings calculation are excluded from the value-added earnings cohort, consistent with federal requirements;
• Confirm that completers who are not working during the applicable earnings measurement period are excluded from the value-added earnings cohort used to determine adjusted median earnings, consistent with federal requirements;
• Maintain documentation of the institution’s evidence of compliance as part of the State approval record.

Determination

The program satisfies the value-added earnings requirement if the program’s total published tuition and required fees are less than or equal to the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary for the applicable award year.

The program does not satisfy the value-added earnings requirement if the program’s total published tuition and required fees exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary, unless the institution reduces the program’s published tuition and required fees to an amount that is equal to or less than the applicable value-added earnings amount, or unless otherwise permitted by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance.

If the Secretary determines that the program has value-added earnings of zero or a negative value, the program shall not satisfy the value-added earnings requirement unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance provides otherwise.

8.7.2 Long-Term Earnings Monitoring

Mississippi may monitor long-term earnings outcomes to evaluate whether Workforce Pell programs continue to produce meaningful economic value for participants over time. Long-term earnings monitoring may include a review of annualized earnings beginning three years after program completion or other timeframes supported by available wage record data.

Long-term earnings monitoring may include comparison to statewide median earnings for individuals with only a high school diploma or another appropriate benchmark, as determined by the State and consistent with federal requirements.

Unless expressly required by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance, long-term earnings monitoring shall be used for State evaluation, planning, program improvement, and continued review purposes and shall not be substituted for the federal value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary.

8.8 Treatment of Currently Enrolled Students Across Accountability Metrics

Currently enrolled students shall be treated according to the specific accountability metric being calculated.

For the value-added earnings test, students who are enrolled in any educational program at the time of the calculation shall be excluded from the value-added earnings cohort. These students shall not be included in the cohort used to determine adjusted median earnings for the value-added earnings test.

For the completion rate, currently enrolled students shall remain subject to the completion rate cohort rules. A student who remains enrolled and has not yet reached the end of the 150 percent normal-time completion window shall continue to be tracked. A student who does not complete within 150 percent of normal time shall be treated as a non-completer for that cohort, unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance provides otherwise.

For the job placement or employment rate, currently enrolled students shall not be excluded solely because they are enrolled in another educational program, unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance provides otherwise. The calculation shall be based on whether program completers are employed during the second full calendar quarter after program exit.

The exclusion of currently enrolled students from the value-added earnings cohort shall not be interpreted as an exclusion from the completion rate or job placement or employment rate calculations, unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance expressly provides such an exclusion.

8.9 Measurement Schedule

Outcome calculations occur after sufficient administrative wage data become available and within the statutory timeframes required for Workforce Pell performance measurement. Because wage records are reported quarterly by employers, results can only be calculated once the required wage record data become available.

8.9.1 Completion Outcomes

Completion rates are calculated after the conclusion of the 150 percent program completion window. This allows sufficient time for participants to complete the program within the federally permitted completion period.

Students who remain enrolled and have not yet reached the end of the 150 percent normal-time completion window shall continue to be tracked until the completion window closes.

8.9.2 Employment Outcomes

Employment placement outcomes are measured using wage records from the second full calendar quarter following program exit. Due to the quarterly reporting cycle of unemployment insurance wage records and standard administrative data processing timelines, employment outcomes are typically calculated after the applicable second full calendar quarter wage records become available.

8.9.3 Value-Added Earnings

The value-added earnings amount is determined and published by the U.S. Secretary of Education in accordance with federal law, regulation, and Department-established methodology. Because the value-added earnings calculation requires sufficient completion and earnings data, an official value-added earnings amount may not be available for a newly approved eligible workforce program during the initial implementation period.

No interim value-added earnings test shall be applied by the State during the initial implementation period unless required by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance. The State shall not substitute a State-calculated value-added earnings amount for the amount determined by the Secretary.

The Secretary will publish the value-added earnings amount that applies to an eligible workforce program for the upcoming award year no later than three months before the beginning of that award year, unless otherwise provided by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance.

Institutions are responsible for ensuring that published tuition and required fees do not exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary for the applicable award year once the amount is available.

8.9.4 Long-Term Earnings Monitoring

Long-term earnings monitoring may be conducted after sufficient wage record data become available. If Mississippi reviews earnings beginning three years after program completion, the State may construct an annualized earnings measure using available wage records and compare program outcomes to an appropriate State benchmark. Such monitoring shall be used for program evaluation and continuous improvement unless federal law, regulation, or Department guidance establishes a specific eligibility consequence.

8.10 Documentation Requirements

The institution shall maintain and submit documentation sufficient to support the reviewing entity’s verification of each accountability metric. Documentation may include, but is not limited to:

• Program name;
• Credential associated with the program;
• Classification of Instructional Programs code;
• Standard Occupational Classification code or codes, as applicable;
• Program length and normal time to completion;
• Published tuition and required fee information;
• Total published tuition and required fees;
• The value-added earnings amount determined, published, or otherwise provided by the Secretary, if available;
• Evidence that the program’s published tuition and required fees do not exceed the applicable value-added earnings amount once that amount is available;
• Program participant cohort data;
• Program completer data;
• Program exit dates;
• Completion status and completion dates;
• Withdrawal information and statutory exclusions;
• Employment or wage record data used for the job placement or employment rate, as available;
• Documentation of students excluded from the value-added earnings cohort because they were enrolled in an educational program at the time of calculation;
• Documentation of completers excluded from the value-added earnings cohort because they were not working during the applicable earnings measurement period;
• Documentation of students who remained enrolled and were still within the 150 percent completion window;
• Calculations showing the completion rate and job placement or employment rate;
• Documentation showing that required data were submitted to the Secretary, as applicable;
• Any assumptions, exclusions, limitations, or data-matching issues affecting the calculation.

The reviewing entity may request additional documentation, conduct follow-up review, or require corrective action if the submitted data are incomplete, inconsistent, unsupported, or otherwise insufficient to establish compliance with applicable accountability standards.

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written policy for monitoring and preparing for future federal implementation requirements, including occupation- or industry-specific employment measurement and related data system enhancements.

Federal Workforce Pell requirements allow job placement to be measured through employment during the second full calendar quarter after program exit during the initial implementation period. Beginning after the 2028-2029 award year, the federal job placement standard will require a more specific occupational or industry alignment review.

For later award years, job placement outcomes must be measured based on whether program completers are employed in the occupation or industry for which the eligible workforce program prepares students, or in a comparable high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupation. The Governor or the Governor’s designee may determine whether an occupation is comparable for this purpose, consistent with federal requirements and Mississippi’s approved methodology for identifying high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations and sectors.

Standard unemployment insurance wage records used for outcome measurement generally do not include occupational classification information, such as Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes. As a result, additional data sources, employer verification processes, or data-sharing mechanisms may be required to identify the specific occupations or industries in which program completers are employed.

To support this future requirement, Mississippi will evaluate options for augmenting existing administrative data systems with occupational information while preserving the integrity, privacy, and reliability of administrative wage-record matching. Potential approaches may include:

• Employer-reported occupational enhancements to wage records, if available and permissible;
• Integration with additional administrative workforce datasets;
• Employer verification of occupational placement;
• Use of supplemental labor market information systems;
• Alignment with SOC codes, CIP codes, and the federal CIP-SOC Crosswalk, where applicable;
• Coordination with AccelerateMS, the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board, Mississippi Department of Employment Security, Mississippi Community College Board, Mississippi Development Authority, Local Workforce Development Areas, and other workforce partners, as appropriate.

Mississippi will continue to monitor federal implementation guidance and may update its Workforce Pell approval and reporting procedures as additional Department guidance is issued regarding occupational placement, industry alignment, data matching, and documentation requirements.

Policy Statement: This section establishes Mississippi’s written policy for denial, withdrawal, loss of eligibility, removal from public posting, notice to institutions and federal agencies, substantially similar programs, and regaining Workforce Pell eligibility.

Consistent with federal law and State approval procedures, the Governor retains discretion to determine that a program is not eligible for State certification and may deny, withdraw, or decline certification at any time if the program does not satisfy applicable Workforce Pell requirements. A program also may lose State approval if the Governor fails to reapprove the program before expiration of the eligible institution’s Program Participation Agreement (PPA).

The U.S. Department of Education may remove a program from federal Workforce Pell eligibility if the program does not meet applicable federal verification requirements, completion rate requirements, job placement or employment rate requirements, value-added earnings requirements, or other federal eligibility standards. State approval and federal approval are separate requirements; a program must maintain both in order for students to receive Workforce Pell funds for enrollment in the program.

10.1 Loss of Eligibility Based on State Action

If the Governor or the Governor’s designee withdraws approval of an eligible workforce program, or if the Governor fails to reapprove the program before expiration of the institution’s PPA, the program becomes ineligible in accordance with the loss-of-eligibility timeline established by federal regulation and Department guidance.

When the State makes a final decision to withdraw approval of an eligible workforce program, the Governor or the Governor’s designee shall notify the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the institution within 15 calendar days of the final withdrawal decision, consistent with federal requirements.

AccelerateMS will update the public posting within 30 days of any program being removed from eligibility due to State or federal action.

10.2 Loss of Eligibility Based on Completion or Job Placement Requirements

If the Secretary determines that an eligible workforce program failed to meet applicable completion rate or job placement rate requirements, the program becomes ineligible in accordance with the loss-of-eligibility timeline established under federal regulation. The Secretary will not make such a determination while a program’s eligibility, approval, reported completion rate, or reported job placement rate is in an appeal status or is awaiting the Governor’s final approval determination, consistent with federal requirements.

10.3 Loss of Eligibility Based on Value-Added Earnings

If an eligible workforce program fails to meet the value-added earnings requirement because its published tuition and required fees exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary, the program becomes ineligible at the beginning of the award year following the release of the applicable value-added earnings amount, unless otherwise permitted by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance.

During the initial implementation period, the absence of a Secretary-determined value-added earnings amount shall not result in the application of a State-created interim value-added earnings test. Mississippi shall not establish an independent value-added earnings threshold or substitute a State-calculated amount for the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary.

10.4 Voluntary Withdrawal or Discontinuation

An institution may voluntarily withdraw or discontinue an eligible workforce program from Workforce Pell participation in accordance with federal and State procedures. The institution shall follow all applicable notification, reporting, student communication, and recordkeeping requirements established by the Department and the State to protect program integrity and ensure accurate public information.

10.5 Substantially Similar Programs and Regaining Eligibility

If an eligible workforce program loses eligibility based on failure to meet completion rate or job placement rate requirements, or if the institution voluntarily discontinues a failing eligible workforce program, the institution may not seek to reestablish eligibility of the failing program or establish eligibility for a substantially similar program until the applicable federal waiting period has passed.

For purposes of federal Workforce Pell requirements, a substantially similar program is determined in accordance with federal regulation and Department methodology, including consideration of program classification and occupational alignment. Mississippi will apply this requirement consistent with federal law, regulation, and guidance.

If a program loses eligibility due to loss of Governor approval, the program may seek to reestablish eligibility after the Secretary receives the Governor’s certification that the program has been approved and after the Secretary determines that the program meets applicable federal eligibility criteria.

If a program loses eligibility because published tuition and required fees exceed the Secretary-determined value-added earnings amount, the institution may seek reinstatement in accordance with federal procedures, including by reducing published tuition and required fees to an amount that does not exceed the applicable value-added earnings amount, if permitted by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance.

10.6 Recordkeeping and Public Notice

The designated State agency shall retain a complete record of any State or federal action resulting in denial, withdrawal, removal, voluntary discontinuation, loss of eligibility, or reinstatement of an eligible workforce program. Records shall include the basis for the action, supporting documentation, required notices, appeal records if applicable, final determinations, and any public posting updates.

Records shall be maintained in accordance with applicable State record-retention requirements and any federal audit, program review, monitoring, or documentation requirements.

For purposes of Mississippi’s Workforce Pell Program Policy, the following definitions and acronyms apply. These definitions shall be interpreted consistent with applicable federal statute, final regulations, U.S. Department of Education guidance, and Mississippi’s approved State process. If federal law, regulation, or Department guidance is revised, these definitions shall be updated as needed to maintain alignment.

Academic Credit Pathway: A documented and operational pathway through which a student who successfully completes an eligible workforce program and subsequently enrolls in a related certificate or degree program at one or more eligible institutions may receive academic credit, advanced standing, prior learning assessment credit, articulated coursework, or other credit recognition for the completed Workforce Pell program toward that certificate or degree program.

Adjusted Cohort Size: The total number of participants in the applicable cohort minus students excluded under federal rules or Department guidance, such as students who die, experience a disabling medical condition that prevents employment, enter active military service for more than 30 days, or become incarcerated, to the extent such exclusions are permitted or required for the applicable metric.

Annualized Earnings: Earnings measured over a 12-month period or four-quarter period, as applicable to the metric or data source being used. For State wage-record analysis, annualized earnings may be constructed by summing wages across four consecutive quarters. For value-added earnings, the earnings measurement period and methodology shall be determined by the Secretary in accordance with federal requirements.

Appeal: A written request submitted by an eligible institution asking the Governor or Governor’s designee to reconsider a denial or other adverse State-level determination under Mississippi’s Workforce Pell program approval process.

Career Pathway: A combination of rigorous and high-quality education, training, and other services that aligns with the skill needs of industries in the State or regional economy; prepares an individual to succeed in secondary or postsecondary education options; includes counseling to support the individual’s education and career goals; includes education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster; organizes education, training, and other services to support an individual’s educational and career advancement; and helps an individual enter or advance within a specific occupation or occupational cluster.

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code: A federal taxonomic code used to classify instructional programs by field of study. Institutions must identify the applicable CIP code for each program submitted for Workforce Pell approval.

Clock Hour: A unit of instructional time used for certain Title IV and Workforce Pell program eligibility determinations. For Workforce Pell purposes, eligible programs must meet applicable clock-hour or equivalent credit-hour requirements established by federal regulation.

Cohort: A group of participants who enter a program during a specified award year or cohort period and are tracked for outcome measurement. Each participant is assigned to the applicable cohort based on the participant’s initial program entry date or other federally recognized cohort assignment rule.

Completer: A student who successfully completes the eligible workforce program and earns the recognized postsecondary credential or other completion outcome associated with the program, as applicable under federal and State requirements.

Completion Rate: The percentage of program participants in the applicable completion cohort who complete the eligible workforce program within 150 percent of the program’s normal time to completion, after applying any allowable exclusions.

Eligible Institution: A Title IV-eligible, accredited postsecondary institution that is authorized to operate in Mississippi or that serves learners located in Mississippi and offers one or more programs that meet federal Workforce Pell requirements.

Eligible Workforce Program: A short-term educational program that meets the federal Workforce Pell requirements, including applicable institutional eligibility, program length, instructional time, Governor approval, Secretary approval, workforce alignment, credential, academic credit, completion, job placement, and value-added earnings requirements. The program must consist of at least 150 but fewer than 600 clock hours, or the applicable equivalent credit hours, and must be offered over at least eight weeks but fewer than 15 weeks.

Employer Validation: Documentation from employers, sector partnerships, industry associations, Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, workforce boards, joint labor-management partnerships, or other State-recognized employer engagement methods demonstrating that a program aligns with employer hiring requirements, occupational competencies, and current or projected workforce demand.

Family-Sustaining Wage: A wage benchmark used by Mississippi to evaluate whether an occupation provides earnings sufficient to meet basic living costs. Mississippi may use the Mississippi Cost of Living Tool, MIT Living Wage Calculator, or another State-recognized source to identify the wage level needed to support economic self-sufficiency for a typical Mississippi household.

Governor’s Certification: The formal State approval or certification issued by the Governor or the Governor’s designee confirming that a program has been reviewed through Mississippi’s Workforce Pell approval process and has been determined to satisfy applicable State-facing Workforce Pell requirements. Governor certification does not, by itself, establish federal Workforce Pell eligibility; the institution must submit the certification and other required documentation to the U.S. Department of Education for Secretary approval.

High-Skill Occupation or Sector: An occupation or industry sector that requires education, training, skills, competencies, or credentials beyond a high school diploma and that is identified through Mississippi’s State workforce methodology, labor market analysis, SWIB priorities, or applicable federal and State workforce definitions.

High-Wage Occupation or Sector: An occupation or industry sector that meets a wage threshold established by Mississippi’s State workforce methodology, including wage benchmarks such as living wage, family-sustaining wage, median wage, or other State-recognized labor market measures.

In-Demand Industry Sector or Occupation: An industry sector or occupation that has substantial current or projected demand, including demand identified through labor market information, employer validation, workforce gap analysis, State or local workforce board input, sector strategies, or other State-recognized evidence of workforce need.

Job Placement or Employment Rate: The percentage of program completers in the applicable employment cohort who are employed during the second full calendar quarter after program exit, as determined using approved wage records, employment records, employer verification, or other allowable documentation.

Local Workforce Development Area (LWDA): A geographic workforce area designated under WIOA and used for workforce planning, labor market analysis, and delivery of workforce development services.

Median Earnings: The midpoint of earnings for individuals included in an applicable earnings cohort. For value-added earnings, median earnings are determined using the cohort and earnings methodology established by the Secretary.

Normal Time to Completion: The amount of time an institution establishes for a student to complete the eligible workforce program, based on the program’s approved length, instructional weeks, clock hours, credit hours, or other applicable measure.

Office of Postsecondary Education Identification Number (OPE ID): The U.S. Department of Education identification number assigned to an eligible institution for federal student aid purposes.

Portable Credential: A credential that is recognized and accepted as verifying the qualifications of an individual in more than one setting, such as across multiple employers, geographic areas, educational institutions, industries, or labor markets.

Priority Occupations List: The State-maintained list of occupations or industry sectors identified by Mississippi, through AccelerateMS, SWIB consultation, labor market analysis, and other approved methods, as high-skill, high-wage, in-demand, or otherwise prioritized for workforce investment and Workforce Pell program approval.

Program Exit: For a student who completes the program, program exit is the student’s completion date. For a student who does not complete the program, program exit is the student’s last date of attendance or other federally recognized exit date, as applicable.

Program Participation Agreement (PPA): The agreement between an eligible institution and the U.S. Department of Education that permits the institution to participate in Title IV, HEA programs. Governor approval of an eligible workforce program expires upon expiration of the institution’s PPA, and the institution must seek Governor reapproval before the PPA expires.

Published Tuition and Required Fees: The total tuition and required fees published by the institution for enrollment in the eligible workforce program. For value-added earnings purposes, published tuition and required fees may not exceed the value-added earnings amount determined by the Secretary once that amount is available for the applicable award year.

Recognized Postsecondary Credential: A credential recognized under applicable federal law and Workforce Pell requirements, which may include an industry-recognized certificate or certification, occupational license, certificate of completion of an apprenticeship, academic certificate, degree, or other credential demonstrating verified education, training, skill attainment, and labor market value.

Related Technical Instruction (RTI): The classroom, laboratory, online, or other instructional component of a Registered Apprenticeship Program that provides the technical and theoretical knowledge required for the occupation. For Workforce Pell purposes, only the RTI component may be evaluated for Pell eligibility when delivered by an eligible institution and when all other federal requirements are met.

Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP): An apprenticeship program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency that combines paid on-the-job learning with related technical instruction and leads to a nationally recognized apprenticeship credential.

Secretary: The U.S. Secretary of Education or the U.S. Department of Education acting under authority delegated by the Secretary.

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: A federal occupational classification code used to identify the occupation or occupations for which a program prepares students.

State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS): Mississippi’s secure data system that links education and workforce records across State agencies and may be used to support program evaluation, employment outcomes analysis, earnings analysis, and Workforce Pell accountability review.

State Wage Interchange System (SWIS): A system that allows participating states to exchange wage record information for authorized workforce program purposes, subject to applicable agreements, privacy protections, and data-sharing rules.

State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB): Mississippi’s State workforce development board established under WIOA. For Workforce Pell purposes, the Governor must consult with the State board when establishing and implementing the publicly available program approval process.

Statutory Exclusions: Student circumstances that may be excluded from applicable accountability calculations when permitted or required by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance, such as death, disabling medical condition that prevents employment, active military service for more than 30 days, or incarceration.

Stackable Credential: A credential that prepares students to pursue one or more additional credentials, including certificate or degree programs, at one or more institutions of higher education. Stackability may be demonstrated through documented academic credit, advanced standing, competency recognition, prior learning assessment, articulation, transfer pathways, or other operational career pathway evidence.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) Wage Records: Administrative wage records reported by employers to the State unemployment insurance system and used, where authorized, to measure employment and earnings outcomes.

Value-Added Earnings (VAE): The amount determined by the Secretary by comparing the adjusted median earnings of qualifying program completers to 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline for a single individual, as adjusted or calculated under federal methodology. The VAE cohort includes qualifying Pell Grant recipients who completed the eligible workforce program, were working during the applicable earnings measurement period, and were not enrolled in any educational program at the time of the calculation. Published tuition and required fees may not exceed the Secretary-determined VAE amount once that amount is available; Mississippi shall not apply an interim State-created VAE test unless required by federal law, regulation, or Department guidance.

Workforce Ecosystem: A geographically defined labor market analysis area used by AccelerateMS to evaluate occupational demand, workforce supply, industry concentration, education and training capacity, and regional workforce needs while maintaining alignment with Mississippi’s workforce governance structure.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA): The federal workforce development law that supports workforce planning, State and local workforce boards, career pathways, eligible training providers, labor market alignment, and employment and training services.

Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA): The federal law that created the Workforce Pell Grant program and authorized Pell Grant eligibility for qualifying short-term workforce programs, subject to the requirements implemented by the U.S. Department of Education.

Policy Statement: This section identifies additional federal compliance requirements incorporated into Mississippi’s Workforce Pell approval process to ensure continued alignment with final federal regulations and Department guidance.

Following review against the final federal Workforce Pell regulations and current U.S. Department of Education implementation materials, the following supplemental federal requirements are incorporated into this policy manual to ensure the Mississippi approval process remains aligned with the final rule. These requirements do not replace the State/Governor approval criteria described in this manual; rather, they clarify related federal requirements that institutions must satisfy, document, or monitor as part of Workforce Pell participation.

12.1 Pell-Only Title IV Eligibility for Eligible Workforce Programs

An eligible student enrolled in an eligible workforce program may receive Federal Pell Grant funds for that program, but the student is not eligible for Federal financial assistance under any other Title IV, HEA program for that eligible workforce program. Unless otherwise provided under federal Workforce Pell regulations, eligible institutions and eligible students remain subject to the same regulations and procedures that otherwise apply to Title IV, HEA program participants.

12.2 Student Eligibility Limitations

Institutions remain responsible for determining student-level Pell Grant eligibility in accordance with federal requirements. In addition to generally applicable Pell Grant eligibility requirements, the following Workforce Pell-specific limitations apply:

• An otherwise eligible student who has already received a baccalaureate degree may receive a Federal Pell Grant for enrollment in an eligible workforce program, if all other eligibility requirements are met.
• A student is not eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant for an eligible workforce program if the student is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a program of study that leads to a graduate credential.
• A student is not eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant for an eligible workforce program if the student has attained a graduate credential.
• A student may not concurrently receive a Federal Pell Grant for enrollment in an eligible workforce program and any other educational program at the same or a different institution, including another eligible workforce program.

12.3 Pell Grant Ineligibility When Non-Federal Grant or Scholarship Assistance Covers Cost of Attendance

A student is not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant for an award year during which the student receives grant or scholarship assistance from non-Federal sources, including State, institutional, or private sources, in an amount that equals or exceeds the student’s cost of attendance for that award year. If an institution becomes aware before the final disbursement that a student has received or will receive non-Federal grant or scholarship assistance that equals or exceeds the student’s cost of attendance, the institution must take any required action under federal regulation, including reducing non-Federal grant or scholarship assistance within the institution’s control or returning/canceling Pell Grant funds as required by the Department.

12.4 Written Arrangements

An eligible institution may enter into written arrangements with outside entities in accordance with 34 CFR 668.5 and other applicable federal requirements. For eligible workforce programs, the amount of a program that may be provided by an ineligible institution or organization through a written arrangement is limited under federal regulation. A written arrangement may permit an ineligible institution or organization to provide more than 25 percent but less than 50 percent of an eligible workforce program only when the program serves as the related instruction component of a Registered Apprenticeship program and the arrangement satisfies all applicable accreditor, ownership/control, and federal requirements.

12.5 Noncredit, Remedial, Reduced-Credit Remedial, and English-as-a-Second-Language Coursework

For a student enrolled in an eligible workforce program, an institution may not take into account any noncredit, remedial, or reduced-credit remedial course, including a course in English as a second language, when determining Pell Grant eligibility for the eligible workforce program. This limitation does not prevent an eligible workforce program from being offered as a clock-hour program when the clock-hour coursework is part of the formal approved program of study and is not remedial coursework. Only coursework required for completion of the eligible workforce program may be included for Workforce Pell purposes.

12.6 Value-Added Earnings Correction, Minimum Cohort, and Calculation Rules

The Secretary calculates value-added earnings using student completion data reported by institutions to support their participation in the Title IV, HEA programs. The Secretary compiles a list of students who received Federal Pell Grant funds and completed the eligible workforce program during the applicable cohort period, provides the list to institutions, and allows institutions 60 days to correct the information reported by the institution on which the list was based.

The Secretary applies federal minimum-cohort and earnings-record rules when calculating value-added earnings. If the final completer list for the cohort period includes fewer than 30 students, the Secretary may combine completers from prior award years for the same program as permitted by federal regulation. If the combined completer count remains below the federal minimum, the Secretary does not calculate value-added earnings for that program for that award year. If a federal agency with earnings data returns earnings records for fewer than 16 students, the Secretary does not calculate value-added earnings for that program for that award year.

When calculating value-added earnings, the Secretary includes completers from all eligible workforce programs with the same six-digit Classification of Instructional Programs code. If more than 50 percent of the students included in the value-added earnings cohort are not located in the State in which the institution offering the program is located, the Department will not adjust the program’s median earnings by State or metropolitan-area regional price parities.

A student is excluded from the value-added earnings calculation if the Secretary determines that the student was enrolled in any other educational program at the institution or at another eligible institution during the calendar year for which the Secretary obtains earnings information. 

12.7 Secretary Waiver Authority for Completion and Placement Submission Requirements

The Secretary may waive some or all of the requirements related to submission of completion rates and the Governor’s certification of job placement rates if the Secretary determines that completion or placement rates will be calculated under a separate process established by the Secretary, or if the Secretary determines that the Governor is making progress toward the post-2028-29 occupational placement certification but needs an additional award year using the initial implementation certification methodology.

12.8 Liability for Failure to Satisfy Value-Added Earnings

If an eligible workforce program fails the value-added earnings requirement, the program becomes ineligible at the beginning of the award year following the release of the value-added earnings. The Secretary will assess liability to the institution for Pell Grant amounts disbursed for students enrolled in the eligible workforce program during the award year for which the value-added earnings were calculated, consistent with federal regulation.

12.9 Federal Reporting and Operational Implementation

Institutions must submit Governor certification and other required documentation to the Department through the process established by the Secretary. The Department is developing or implementing federal reporting processes and forms for State Workforce Pell program certification and related institutional submissions. Mississippi may update this policy, application materials, templates, and reporting instructions as additional Department operational guidance, forms, or system instructions are issued.

This process shall be interpreted and applied consistent with federal statute, final regulations, U.S. Department of Education guidance, and any approved federal or State data-matching methodology. If federal requirements or Department guidance are revised, Mississippi may update this process to ensure continued alignment with applicable Workforce Pell requirements.

Appendix A. State Workforce Investment Board Consultation Attestation

Appendix B. Governor or Designee Workforce Pell Program Certification

Appendix C. MS Workforce Pell Institutional Application

Appendix D. Employer Validation Form

Appendix E. Academic Credit and Stackability Portability Documentation Template

Appendix F. Appeal Form and Appeal Letter Template