Table 4: Measurable Skill Gains (MSG) by Entry Level

Instructions for Completing Table 4

• EFL Placement:  See Table 1.
• For the purposes of reporting measurable skill gain on Tables 4, 4C, 8, 9, 10 and 11, each program entry per participant during the reporting period is considered a period of participation.
• Count each participant only once in columns E through H. Total number of participants in column B should equal corresponding total number of participants in other NRS tables. Report the most recent measurable skill gain for a participant who achieved more than one measurable skill gain during a period of participation.
• The number in Column C is the number of participants who are being excluded from MSG performance due to the exclusion scenarios listed in OCTAE Program Memorandum 17-2 Attachment 2, Table A. No values associated with these participants should be entered into columns E-I.
• The number in column E is the number of participants who completed one or more Educational Functioning Level (EFL) gains (MSG types 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) as measured in one of four ways: 1) by comparing a participant’s initial EFL as measured by a pre-test with the participant’s EFL as measured by a participant’s post-test; or 2) for States that offer high school programs that lead to a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, an EFL gain may be measured through the awarding of credits or Carnegie units; or 3) States may report an EFL gain for participants who enroll in postsecondary education or training during the program year; or 4) States may report an educational functioning level gain for participants who pass a subtest on a State-recognized high school equivalency examination.
• Column F is the number of participants who attained a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (MSG type 2).
• Column G is the number of IET or workplace literacy participants who achieved an MSG via Secondary or Postsecondary Transcript, Progress Toward Milestones, or Passing Technical/Occupational Skills Exam (MSG types 3, 4, 5), as described in OCTAE Program Memorandum 17-2. For participants not enrolled in an IET or workplace literacy program, measurable skill gains are only measured by achievement of an educational functioning level gain (MSG types 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) or documented attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (MSG type 2).
• Enter only the most recent achievement, if attained, per participant in column E or column F or column G. Participants should have an achievement counted in only one of these columns.
• Column H is the number of participants who achieved no measurable skill gain and exited the program. The last day of service cannot be determined until at least 90 days have elapsed since the participant last received services (services do not include self-service, information-only services or activities, or follow-up services), and there are no plans to provide the participant with future services.
• Column I is number of participants who remain enrolled and achieved no measurable skill gain.
• Column B should equal Column C + E + F + G + H +I.
• Column J is calculated using the following formula: (Column J) = (Column E + Column F + Column G) / (Column B – Column C)
• Column K is the total number of periods of participation for each participant. A participant may have more than one period of participation. Do not include periods of participation that are excluded from MSG performance due to the exclusion scenarios listed in OCTAE Program Memorandum 17-2 Attachment 2, Table A. No values associated with these periods of participation should be entered into columns K-N.
• Column L is the Total number of Periods of Participation in which at least one educational functioning level gain (MSG types 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) was achieved. Multiple outcomes are permissible for individual participants with more than one period of participation. Although participants may achieve more than one gain per period of participation, only one gain for a participant per period of participation is reported in EITHER column L or column M or column N.
• Column M is the Total number of Periods of Participation in which a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (MSG type 2) was attained. Multiple outcomes are permissible for individual participants with more than one period of participation. Although participants may achieve more than one gain per period of participation, only one gain for a participant per period of participation is reported in EITHER column L or column M or column N.
• Column N is the Total number of IET or workplace literacy Periods of Participation in which an MSG was achieved via Secondary or Postsecondary Transcript, Progress Toward Milestones, or Passing Technical/Occupational Skills Exam (MSG types 3, 4, 5). Multiple outcomes are permissible for individual participants with more than one period of participation. Although participants may achieve more than one gain per period of participation, only one gain for a participant per period of participation is reported in EITHER column L or column M or column N. For participants not enrolled in an IET or workplace literacy program, skill gains are only measured by achievement of at least one educational functioning level or documented attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
• Column O is calculated using the following formula: (Column O) = (Column L+ Column M + Column N) / (Column K)
• Period of Participation: For the Measurable Skill Gains indicator, a new period of participation is counted each time a participant enrolls—even if both enrollments occur within the same program year. It is not necessary to wait until the participant exits the program in order to count a measurable skill gain, because the measurable skill gains indicator is not an exit-based indicator. The skill gain may be counted as soon as it is earned at any point during the participation period of the program year in which it was earned. A person with more than one period of participation in a program year is counted separately for each period of participation in both the numerator and denominator of each applicable performance indicator. Therefore, the person is counted multiple times— once for each period of participation. Please see OCTAE program memorandum 17-2 for examples of counting periods of participation.