5101:1-3-12.7 Vocational educational training.

(A) Conflict with Revised Code

(1) Section (5) of Amended Substitute Senate Bill 238 of the 126th General Assembly (09/06) sets forth the following provision: Not later than September 30, 2006, the director of job and family services shall adopt rules as necessary for the state to comply with 42 U.S.C. 607(i)(2) (08/96). If necessary to bring the state into compliance with 42 U.S.C. 607(i)(2) (08/96), the rules may deviate from Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code. Rules adopted under this section that govern financial and other administrative requirements applicable to the department of job and family services and county departments of job and family services shall be adopted in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code as if they were internal management rules. All other rules adopted under this section shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(2) The county department of job and family services (CDJFS) shall administer the work activity programs in accordance with the requirements contained in this rule and not in accordance with sections 5107.01, 5107.40, 5107.43, 5107.58 and 5107.60 of the Revised Code.

(3) All applicable requirements contained in the Revised Code sections referenced in paragraph (A)(2) of this rule have been incorporated in this rule.

(B) Definition and requirements

(1) Vocational educational training means organized education programs that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations requiring training.

(2) Vocational educational training must be provided by education and training organizations. Acceptable types of vocational educational training include, but are not limited to the following:

(a) Baccalaureate or advanced degrees;

(b) Associate degree;

(d) Industrial skills certificate;

(e) Non-credit coursework;

(f) Basic skills education and English as a second language (ESL) courses if they are a necessary and regular part of the vocational educational training.

(3) Hours of participation are actual hours spent in the classroom not semester or quarter credit hours.

(4) The CDJFS may count supervised homework time and up to one hour of unsupervised time for each hour of class time. Total homework time counted for participation cannot exceed the hours required or advised by a particular education institution. The CDJFS must document the homework expectations of the educational program in order to count homework time.

(1) For each work eligible applicant or participant, no more than twelve months lifetime of vocational educational training will count toward the federal participation rate.

(2) Not more than thirty percent of the number of individuals assigned to vocational educational training in all families and in two-parent families respectively, shall count toward the monthly work participation rate under rule 5101:1-3-01 of the Administrative Code.

(D) Tuition

(1) The participant shall make reasonable efforts, as determined by the CDJFS, to obtain a loan, scholarship, grant or other assistance to pay for the tuition, including a federal Pell grant under 20 U.S.C.1070a (10/98), an Ohio instruction grant under section 3333.12 of the Revised Code, and an Ohio college opportunity grant under section 3333.12 2 of the Revised Code.

(2) If the participant has made reasonable efforts but is unable to obtain sufficient assistance to pay the tuition the program may pay the tuition. The CDJFS may enter into a loan agreement with the participant to pay the tuition. The total period for which tuition is paid and loans made shall not exceed two years.

(3) If the participant volunteers to participate in the vocational education program for more hours each week than the hours assigned, the program may pay or the CDJFS may loan the cost of the tuition for the assigned number of hours.

(4) A CDJFS that provides loans under paragraph (D) of this rule shall establish procedures governing loan application for and the approval and administration of loans granted pursuant to this paragraph.

Effective: 10/01/2008

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 12/29/2011

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 5107.05, Section 5 of Amended Substitute Senate Bill 238 of the 126th General Assembly

Rule Amplifies: 5107.05

Prior Effective Dates: 9/29/2006 (Emer.), 12/29/2006, 7/1/2007