8.3.2 Education And Training Activities For Community Service Jobs And W-2 Transition Placements

Participants assigned to a CSJ or W-2 T placement may be assigned education and training activities through any of the following means:

· Through the assignment of up to 10 hours per week of education and training for individuals placed in a CSJ and up to 12 hours per week of education and training for individuals placed in a W-2 T (see 8.3.2.2);

· By aggregating education and training hours to enable a participant to engage in an education and training program that a participant can complete within a one-year period with participation in up to 516 hours of education and training activity (see 8.3.2.3); or

· Through participation in a full-time technical college education program (see 8.3.2.5).

· When an 18- or 19-year-old CSJ participant has not obtained a high school diploma or equivalent, the W-2 agency must allow the participant to decide whether to attend high school or to enroll in a course of study meeting the standards established under 115.29(4), Wis. Stats, in order to satisfy, in whole or in part, the required hours of participation in a CSJ. (See 8.3.2.1)

Participants who are interested in education and training activities that are not covered in W-2 policy should be counseled on their options which may include:

1. Pursuing the education or training program while meeting their W-2 participation requirement through other assigned activities. While this is 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 his or her 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 his or her options.

Individuals who elect to pursue training outside of W-2 should be informed that child care eligibility for the training may be affected if the participant is not employed at least 5 hours per week. Information regarding Child Care policy can be found in the Child Care Policy Manual.

8.3.2.1 Education Activities for 18- and 19-year-old CSJ Participants

When an 18- or 19-year-old CSJ participant has not obtained a high school diploma or equivalent, the W-2 agency must allow the participant to decide whether to attend high school or to enroll in a course of study meeting the standards established under 115.29(4), Wis. Stats, in order to satisfy, in whole or in part, the required hours of participation in a CSJ. 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 assist these participants in finding employment. If employment is not obtained for the summer, these participants must be assigned to appropriate employment-related activities.

Although it is expected that most 18- or 19-year-old CSJ participants will want to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent, some may choose not to do so. If this is the case, they should be assigned to other work training and education and training activities as appropriate.

8.3.2.2 Assignment of Up to 10 or 12 Hours Per Week of Education and Training

The FEP may assign CSJ participants up to 10 hours per week of education and training activities, and may assign W-2 T participants up to 12 hours per week of education and training activities. If there are hours spent in the classroom, doing lab work or study time, those hours must be included as part of the assigned education and training activities.

The following types of activities are allowable under the education and training hours for CSJ and W-2 T participants.

1. A course of study meeting the standards established under 115.29(4), Stats., for the granting of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation.

W-2 agencies may coordinate with the Wisconsin Technical College System and the University of Wisconsin-Extension Program or other educational programs to provide a variety of Adult Basic Education opportunities including literacy skills and remedial math and reading courses.

Up to one hour of unsupervised study time for each hour of class time plus supervised study time may be assigned under these activities and tracked for attendance purposes. A statement from the educational program indicating the amount of study time required must be used to determine the assignment of hours.

1. Technical college courses and other educational courses that provide an occupational skill.

W-2 agencies can coordinate with technical colleges to offer certified (or diploma/degree) training programs, and also 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 include:

The W-2 activity code associated with these training activities is Job Skills Training (JS). Up to one hour of unsupervised study time for each hour of class time plus supervised study time may be assigned under Job Skills Training (JS) and tracked for attendance purposes. A statement from the educational program indicating the amount of study time required must be used to determine the 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 8.3.2.5)

8.3.2.3 Aggregating Education and Training Hours

The FEP may aggregate education and training hours to allow W-2 T and CSJ participants access to short-term intensive training programs that require more than 10 or 12 hours of participation per week. Totaling education and training hours in this manner allows the FEP to place the CSJ or W-2 T participant in a short-term program.

The aggregation policy can be applied and should be considered for education and training programs that a participant can complete within a one-year period with participation in up to 516 hours of education and training activity. In addition to the education and training activities, the FEP must assign some work training activities each week, not to exceed a total of 40 hours of participation per week.

The FEP must document in PIN comments that the aggregation policy was used, the amount of aggregated education and training hours, the occupational skills to be gained, and the expected number of weeks needed to complete the training.

Wisconsin’s Technical College system offers many one- and two- semester certificate programs that are accessible to W-2 participants under the aggregated education and training policy.

EXAMPLE: Jennifer is found eligible for a CSJ. Based on an occupational assessment, she is found to be a good candidate for a short-term intensive training program. Jennifer enrolls at her local technical college in a 16 week certificate program, requiring 15 credits.

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 an additional 10 hours per week studying. Using the aggregation policy, the FEP assigns her to participate 30 hours per week in the program. The FEP also assigns another 10 hours of work training activity for a total of 40 hours per week.

Jennifer’s total aggregated education and training hours over this 16 week timeframe is 480 hours (30 hours per week x 16 weeks), keeping her well within the policy’s one-year completion period and the 516 hour limit.

The goal of this policy is full-time unsubsidized employment. If the agency is unsuccessful in connecting Jennifer to unsubsidized employment, 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.

8.3.2.4 Combining Aggregated Education and Training with Prorated CSJ Policy

A prorated CSJ placement is appropriate for individuals who are already working in an unsubsidized job less than 30 hours per week and are determined through an informal assessment to have barriers that prevent him or her from obtaining an additional unsubsidized job or from increasing the number of hours in the current job. This includes individuals who lack the skills needed to be competitive for jobs available in the current unsubsidized market. See 7.4.1 for additional characteristics of an employed individual who may be appropriate for a prorated CSJ.

In certain circumstances, these individuals would also benefit from an intensive short-term training program using the aggregated education and training policy. When combining the prorated CSJ policy and the aggregated education and training policy, the FEP must keep in mind that total hours of participation, including unsubsidized employment, must not exceed 40 hours per week.

EXAMPLE: Laura works 15 hours per week washing dishes at a local restaurant. The W-2 agency assesses Laura’s employability and determines that she is in need of additional training in order to make her competitive 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 is motivated and 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 and additional 6 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 the 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). She is meeting the requirements of the prorated CSJ policy while also benefiting from the aggregated education and training policy.

8.3.2.5 Full-Time Technical College Education

An individual placed in a CSJ or W-2 T may participate in a full-time technical college education program when specific requirements listed below are met. An individual may participate for the duration of the program but for no longer than 2 years as long as the agency has determined that the program will likely lead to employment. 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.

An individual placed in a CSJ or W-2 T may participate in a full-time technical college education program as part of that placement if the participant meets all 3 of the following requirements:

1. Is enrolled full-time (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 and regularly attends all classes;

2. Maintains a grade point average of at least 2.0 (or the equivalent, as determined by the technical college);

3. 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/internships, career planning and counseling, job shadowing and work experience activities that relate to the training program.

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 is applying for financial aid.