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CAPS Policy – Eligibility Requirements No.: CAPS/00-6 Effective Date: 10/01/2016 Revised: 07/01/2025 Revision Effective: 07/01/2025

CAPS Policy Manual

Page 35 of 109 6.8.3 Education – Participation in middle or high school, adult education, vocational training, early childhood education credential or training courses, TCC, education or training through WorkSource Georgia, associate degree, and bachelor’s degree programs qualifies as a state-approved activity, as described below.

6.8.3.1 Middle or High School – Enrollment and participation in middle or high school qualifies as a state-approved activity. A. Parents 20 years of age or younger enrolled in middle or high school have no additional activity requirement. If the parent is employed in addition to attending middle or high school, child care may be authorized to support both activities. B. Parents 21 years of age or older enrolled in high school or a high school diploma program must supplement enrollment with other state-approved activities (such as employment) to meet the participation requirement of an average of at least 24 hours per week.

6.8.3.2 Adult Education – Enrollment and participation in an adult education program qualifies as a state-approved activity. These programs consist of High School Equivalency (HSE) courses which includes HiSET testing, General Equivalency Diploma (GED), and Career Plus HSE, Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE), and English as a Second Language (ESL).

A. Parents 20 years of age or younger participating in an adult education program have no additional activity requirement. B. Parents 21 years of age or older enrolled in an adult education program must participate an average of at least 24 hours per week. Parents with confirmed in-class instruction or online course hours may supplement adult education enrollment with other state-approved activities (such as employment) to meet the participation requirement of an average of at least 24 hours per week. C. Parents 21 years of age or older enrolled in a self-paced (i.e., no confirmed instructional or online course hours) adult education or high school diploma program must supplement adult education and high school diploma enrollment with other state-approved activities (such as employment) to meet the participation requirement of an average of at least 24 hours per week.

6.8.3.3 Vocational Training – Enrollment and participation in vocational training programs (defined as educational programs that do not lead toward a college degree) qualifies as a state-approved activity. Vocational training may be completed through in-class instruction or online courses. Vocational training includes, but is not limited to, certificate and diploma programs. At DECAL’s sole discretion, participation in vocational training programs at non-academic institutions may be considered for approval.

6.8.3.4 Early Childhood Education – Enrollment and participation in early childhood education credential or training courses, such as Child Development Associate (CDA), qualify as a state-approved activity. The course work can be completed through in-class instruction or online courses.

6.8.3.5 Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) – Enrollment and participation in a TCC program qualifies as a state- approved activity. TCC course work may be completed through in-class instruction or online courses.

6.8.3.6 Technical College Diploma (TCD) – Enrollment and participation in a TCD program qualifies as a state- approved activity. TCD course work may be completed through in-class instruction or online courses.

6.8.3.7 Associate or Bachelor’s Degree – Enrollment and participation in an associate or bachelor’s degree programs at an Eligible Postsecondary Institution as defined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission qualifies as a state-approved activity. (See Appendix BB for instructions on how to confirm an institution’s eligibility status.) Associate and bachelor’s degree programs may be completed through in-class instruction or online courses.

6.8.3.8 For adult education (with confirmed course hours), vocational training, early childhood education credential or training courses, TCC, education or training through WorkSource Georgia, associate degree, and bachelor’s degree programs, each credit hour (or hour of online or in-person coursework) equates to two hours of state-approved activity to account for study time. If the overall number of credit hours for an