Education and Training
The Wisconsin Works (W-2) program provides education and training opportunities in conjunction with work or work-related activities in order to facilitate an attachment to the workforce as soon as possible. Depending on an individual’s needs and the level of placement in the W-2 program, education and training may include:
- General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) preparation;
- Technical college courses and other education courses that provide an employment skill;
- Employer-sponsored training;
- English-as-a-Second Language classes;
- Adult basic education courses.
The Financial and Employment Planner (FEP) is required to conduct an Educational Needs Assessment with each W-2 applicant who is determined to be financially and non-financially eligible for W-2. If the assessment identifies a need for education or training activities, these activities must be included in an individual’s W-2 Employability Plan.
There are four rungs on the W-2 Employment ladder, including 1) Unsubsidized Employment; 2) Trial Jobs; 3) Community Service Jobs; and 4) W-2 Transitions. Education and training opportunities depend on which rung of the W-2 ladder the individual is placed:
- Unsubsidized Employment and Trial Jobs: For individuals placed on either of these rungs of the W-2 ladder, the W-2 agency must work with the individual to identify education and training needs. For individuals placed in a Trial Job, education and training activities may be a requirement of the employer. If an assessment indicates that an individual needs and wishes to pursue basic education, the W-2 agency must include the activity in the participant’s Employability Plan and pay for basic education services.
- Community Service Jobs (CSJ) and W-2 Transitions (W-2 T): An individual placed in a CSJ or W-2 T may be assigned up to 10 or 12 hours per week, respectively, of education and training. Education and training may include GED/HSED preparation, technical college courses and other education courses that provide an employment skill, employer sponsored training, English-as-Second Language classes, and adult basic education courses.
If an assessment indicates that an individual needs and wishes to pursue basic education, the W-2 agency must include the activity in the individual’s Employability Plan and pay for basic education services.
Other W-2 Education and Training Opportunities
- Education for 18 and 19-year-old Participants: An 18 or 19-year old individual placed in a CSJ who has not completed high school or obtained a GED/HSED may satisfy in whole or in part the required hours of W-2 participation through attendance at high school or GED/HSED courses.
- Aggregating Education and Training Hours: CSJ and W-2 T participants who may benefit from a short-term intensive training program that requires more than 10 or 12 hours of participation per week may have their education and training hours aggregated. The training program can be no more than 516 hours in length and must be completed within a one-year period. In addition to the training activities the individual must be assigned some hours of work activity each week. Total combined training and work activities cannot exceed 40 hours each week.
- Technical College Participation: If a W-2 agency determines that a CSJ or W-2 T participant would be unable to obtain unsubsidized employment without additional training, the agency may allow the individual to attend a technical college education program for up to 15 hours per week if the following requirements are met:
- The individual is employed or engages in work under a CSJ or W-2 T for 25 hours per week in addition to class time.
- The individual maintains full-time status in the technical college education program and regularly attends all classes.
- The individual maintains a grade point average of at least 2.0.