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Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual |
8.2.2.1
Education Activities for 18- and 19-year-old CSJ Participants
8.2.2.2
Weekly Education and Training Activity Assignments
8.2.2.2.1 Allowable Education
and Training Activity Types
8.2.2.3 Aggregating Education
and Training Hours
8.2.2.4
Combining Aggregated Education and Training with Prorated CSJ Policy
8.2.2.5 Full-Time Technical College
Education
Participants assigned to a CSJ or W-2 T placement may be assigned education and training activities through any of the following means:
Allowable Activities |
Eligible Placements |
Relevant Section |
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CSJ and W-2 T | 8.2.2.2 |
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CSJ and W-2 T | 8.2.2.3 |
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CSJ and W-2 T | 8.2.2.5 |
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18- or 19-year-old CSJ participants |
8.2.2.1 |
Participants who are interested in education and training activities not covered in W-2 policy should be advised on their options, which may include:
1. Pursuing an education or training program in addition to meeting their W-2 participation requirement through other assigned activities. While not a viable option for everyone, some participants may be able to manage both participation in required W-2 activities up to 40 hours per week plus education and training that is not part of assigned W-2 activities. Any employment search activities assigned by the W-2 agency should target employment that aligns with the training the participant is enrolled in.
2. Ending their participation in the W-2 program and applying for and using financial aid and other work supports (FoodShare, child care, etc.) to complete the training program. Individuals who wish to pursue education and training outside the scope of the W-2 program should be referred to a career counselor at the nearest Wisconsin Technical College to explore their options.
The W-2 agency should encourage individuals who choose to pursue training outside of W-2 to discuss child care options with their local Income Maintenance agency, as child care eligibility may be affected if the participant is not employed at least five hours per week.
18- or 19-year-old CSJ participants without a high school diploma or equivalent can fulfill, in whole or in part, the required hours of participation in a CSJ by:
1. Attending high school; or
2. Enrolling in a course of study meeting the high school graduation equivalency standards established under Wis. Stat. s. 115.29(4).
The W-2 agency must monitor each participant’s progress towards achieving a high school diploma or equivalent.
During the summer months, the agency must:
1. Assist participants in finding summer employment; or
2. Assign appropriate employment-related activities if summer employment is not obtained.
18- or 19-year-old CSJ participants who choose not to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent should be assigned to other work training and education and training activities as appropriate.
The FEP may assign education and training activities for the following:
· 10 hours per week for individuals placed in a CSJ; and
· 12 hours per week for individuals placed in a W-2 T.
Hours spent in the classroom, doing lab work or study time, must be included as part of the assigned education and training activities.
8.2.2.2.1 Allowable Education and Training Activity Types
The following types of activities are allowable under the education and training hours for CSJ and W-2 T participants.
W-2 Education
1. A course of study meeting the high school graduation equivalency standards established under Wis. Stat. s. 115.29(4).
2. English as a Second Language.
3. Adult Basic Education courses.
W-2 agencies may coordinate with the Wisconsin Technical College System, the University of Wisconsin System, or other educational programs to provide a variety of Adult Basic Education opportunities including literacy skills and remedial math courses.
The W-2 activity codes associated with these education activities include:
· Adult Basic Education (BE);
· English as a Second Language (EL);
· General Educational Development (GED);
· High School Equivalency Diploma (HE);
· Literacy Skills (LS); and
· Regular School (RS).
The following activities may be assigned under these activities and tracked for attendance purposes:
1. Class time;
2. Supervised study time;
3. Up to one hour of unsupervised study time for each hour of class time.
A statement from the educational program indicating the amount of study time required must be used to determine the appropriate assignment of hours. This statement can come in the form of, but is not limited to:
· A syllabus;
· Course description; or
· Note from the educational program.
EXAMPLE: Kalid is in a CSJ placement and is enrolled in an adult basic education course at the local technical college where the instructor recommends up to three hours of study time per hour of class time. Kalid’s FEP assigns three hours of unsupervised study time to match Kalid’s three hours of in class time. Because Kalid is in a CSJ placement, he can spend up to four hours in supervised study time for a total of 10 hours per week of education and training activities. |
For more information on W-2 activities, see Activity Codes Appendix.
W-2 Training
1. Technical college courses and other educational courses that provide an occupational skill.
2. Employer-sponsored training.
W-2 agencies can coordinate with technical colleges to offer certified (or diploma/degree) training programs, and work directly with employers to develop on-site training opportunities.
These training courses must be tied directly to occupations for which there are job openings in the community. Examples may include:
· Basic welding;
· Data entry;
· Certified nursing assistants;
· Utility installation;
· Administrative professional (e.g., administrative assistant, office manager, billing personnel etc.);
· Food preparation/culinary arts;
· Electronic assembly;
· Child care;
· Press production;
· Construction;
· Entrepreneurial/small business; and
· Hospitality training.
The W-2 activity code associated with these training activities is Job Skills Training (JS).
The following activities may be assigned under Job Skills Training (JS) and tracked for attendance purposes:
1. Class time;
2. Supervised study time;
3. Up to one hour of unsupervised study time for each hour of class time.
A statement from the educational program indicating the amount of study time required must be used to determine the appropriate assignment of hours.
If these activities are not available through the Job Center or other community resources, W-2 agencies must take responsibility for funding these services if assigned as a required activity, with the exception of a full-time technical college program. (See 8.2.2.5)
CSJ or W-2 T participants who want to enroll in a short-term intensive training program that requires more than 10 or 12 hours of participation per week, may use more than 10 or 12 hours per week of education and training activities so long as they do not exceed 516 hours total within a one-year period. This is called the aggregation policy.
The aggregation policy can be used for education and training programs that:
1. A W-2 T and CSJ participant can complete within a one-year period; and
2. Do not exceed 516 hours of required participation in education and training activity per year.
In addition to the education and training activities, the FEP must assign work training activities each week, not to exceed a total of 40 hours of participation per week.
When the aggregation policy is used, The FEP must document in PIN comments the:
1. Amount of aggregated education and training hours;
2. Occupational skills to be gained; and
3. Expected number of weeks needed to complete the training.
Wisconsin’s Technical College system offers many one- and two- semester certificate programs accessible to W-2 participants under the aggregated education and training policy.
EXAMPLE: Jennifer is a W-2 participant placed in a CSJ. Jennifer decides she wants to enroll in a short-term intensive training program and enrolls at her local technical college in a 16-week certificate program.
Lecture time and lab work requires her to attend school 20 hours per week. In addition, her instructor provides a written statement estimating that Jennifer will need to spend 10 hours per week studying.
Using the aggregation policy, the FEP assigns her to participate in a total of 40 hours per week:
· 30 hours per week in the program; and
· 10 hours per week of work training activities.
Jennifer’s total aggregated education and training time over this 16-week timeframe is 480 hours (30 hours per week x 16 weeks), keeping her within the aggregation policy’s one-year completion period and the 516-hour yearly limit.
If the FEP is unsuccessful in connecting Jennifer to unsubsidized employment after she completes her short-term intensive training program, her hours of participation in education and training activities are limited to the following:
· For the remainder of the year, beginning with the date of her assignment to the education and training program, Jennifer cannot be assigned to more than 36 hours of education and training (516 – 480 = 36).
· One year following the date of her assignment to the education and training program, if Jennifer is still in a CSJ placement, 10 hours per week of education and training activity may be assigned.
A prorated CSJ placement is appropriate for individuals who are:
· Working in an unsubsidized job less than 30 hours per week; and
· Identified, through an informal assessment, to have barriers that prevent them from obtaining an additional unsubsidized job or from increasing the number of hours in their current job.
See 7.4.1 for additional characteristics of an employed individual who may be appropriate for a prorated CSJ.
In some cases, these individuals may benefit from an intensive short-term training program using the aggregated education and training policy. (See 8.2.2.3)
When combining the prorated CSJ policy and the aggregated education and training policy, the total hours of participation, including unsubsidized employment, must not exceed 40 hours per week.
EXAMPLE: Laura works 15 hours per week at a local restaurant. The FEP discusses Laura’s employability options and determines that she would benefit from additional training to expand her options for full-time employment. The FEP assigns her to a half-time CSJ.
A prorated CSJ would normally require Laura to participate 11 to 15 hours in work training and up to 10 hours of education and training per week. But Laura would like to participate in a certificate program on Medical Billing offered through the local technical college. The 16-week certificate program requires Laura to be in the classroom 14 hours per week. In addition, her instructor provides a written statement estimating that Laura will need to spend an additional six hours per week studying.
Laura’s total aggregated education and training hours over the 16-week timeframe is 320 hours (20 hours per week x 16 weeks) of education and training.
In addition to her training activity, the FEP assigns Laura to 5 hours per week of work experience at a site specifically related to the training. Laura is participating a total of 40 hours (15 hours in unsubsidized employment, 20 hours in education and training and 5 hours in work experience). Laura meets the requirements of the prorated CSJ policy while also benefiting from the aggregated education and training policy.
An individual placed in a CSJ or W-2 T may participate in a full-time technical college education program:
1. For the duration of the program but for no longer than two years, as long as the agency has determined that the program will likely lead to employment; and
2. As part of their CSJ or W-2 T placement if the participant meets all three of the following requirements:
a. Is enrolled full-time and regularly attends all classes (up to 15 hours per week) in a program offered through the Wisconsin Technical College System that requires between one and two years of class--time to complete;
b. Maintains a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (or the equivalent, as determined by the technical college); and
c. Is employed or engages in work activities under a CSJ or W-2 T for 25 hours per week in addition to class time. The 25 hours must include the study time required for the program as well as other work activities that relate to the training the participant is engaged in that will improve the likelihood of obtaining employment once the training is completed. This may include activities such as:
Work study or internships;
Career planning or counseling; and
Job shadowing and work experience activities related to the training program.
An agency must consult with its Community Steering Committee and local technical college board to determine if a technical college education program will likely lead to employment. Agencies are encouraged to detail their own internal policies governing how appropriate programs will be identified and how FEPs will make a determination for placement in a technical college education program. In all circumstances, the decision should be documented in PIN comments.
Including the technical college program on the EP does not obligate the W-2 agency to pay for the program out of its W-2 budget. If the participant has not identified available funding for the program, the agency may require the participant to do so. The agency must assist the participant if they apply for financial aid.
The W-2 activity codes associated with full-time Technical College are:
· Technical College (TC)
· Technical College Study Time (TT)
History: Release 25-04; Release 24-11; Release 21-07; Release 20-03.