Preparing for the New Pell-Funded Workforce Development Era: How IntelliBoard Supports Compliance and Accountability.

With the passage of the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, institutions across the country are preparing for a new era of federally funded, short-term workforce development programs. For the first time, Pell Grants will support career-connected learning outside traditional degree pathways—creating opportunities for adult learners and opening up a critical new revenue stream for colleges and training providers.

But this opportunity comes with new responsibilities. Beginning July 1, 2026, institutions must be able to verify student participation and progression in these short-term, often in-person, programs with the same rigor demanded for other forms of federal aid.

At IntelliBoard, we’re ready.

Supporting Mandatory Record Keeping

Many workforce development courses are primarily conducted face-to-face, and in the past instructors have relied on manual sign-in sheets or paper logs to document attendance. These paper trails are not sufficient when federal funds are at stake. Paper records are difficult to track and locate in the event of an audit and are not archived with complete records of course participation. From our extensive experience supporting academic clients who are responsible for Pell Grant reporting, we know that federal auditors need verifiable, time-stamped records that show a student actively engaged with the course. This can be as simple as a syllabus quiz, an academic integrity acknowledgment, a meet-and-greet post, or another small but documentable learning activity within the LMS for each course. Whether the bulk of the course is delivered face-to-face, in a hybrid format, or fully online, this record of active engagement provides a strong audit trail of attendance that is readily available to the institution at any time.

Introducing: First Submission Monitoring for Workforce Programs

To support institutions as they prepare for this shift, IntelliBoard is offering a streamlined solution specifically for Workforce Development programs:

First Submission Monitoring Dashboard

Track whether a student has made an official submission in the LMS—proof of attendance and engagement from Day 1. This dashboard provides real-time visibility for workforce directors and compliance officers.

Why Act Now?

This new requirement is federal, not just a regional or pilot initiative. States like North Carolina are already preparing. Schools that act now can avoid the last-minute scramble in 2026—and demonstrate proactive accountability to accrediting bodies, boards, and the Department of Education. That’s why IntelliBoard is working with clients to implement the necessary reporting now—giving institutions time to pilot and scale the solution before compliance is mandatory.

Partnering for Workforce Readiness

With a foundation in data transparency, accountability, and compliance, IntelliBoard is uniquely positioned to help institutions meet the evolving demands of federal education policy. We understand the constraints of workforce teams and the regulations around Pell Grant reporting. That’s why this package is being designed for minimal onboarding and maximum value. It’s a one-dashboard solution tailored for busy directors who just need to stay compliant.

Whether you’re offering healthcare certification, advanced manufacturing training, or other skilled trades instruction, we’ll make sure you can prove that every learner is participating—and every dollar is accounted for.

Ready to Get Started?

We’re assembling a rapid deployment offering for workforce teams. If you’re interested in learning more about the First Submission Monitoring solution, contact us today.

Let’s ensure your workforce programs are audit-ready—and Pell-eligible—for years to come.