Page 1201

COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 12/2014

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

0028.12

MFIP: Caregivers under the age of 18 without a high school diploma or GED must attend school unless exempt.

The caregiver must be enrolled in a secondary school and meeting the school's attendance requirements.

For caregivers under 18 years of age, who are enrolled in an on-line secondary school or GED program, refer to the school district to determine its legitimacy. Each district has a transfer specialist who will sort this out, probably by doing testing.

Consider a caregiver to be attending school when he or she is enrolled but the school is not in regular session (for example, during holidays and summer breaks).

At the intake interview, give caregivers under age 20 the Graduate to Independence/MFIP Teen Parent Informational Brochure (DHS-2887) (PDF) and the Notice of Requirement to Attend School (DHS-2961) (PDF).

For an 18- or 19-year old caregiver with an on-line diploma from a program other than one approved by the MN Dept. of Education, explain the MFIP policy and place the teen in the “work option”. See 0012.06 (Requirements for Caregivers Under 20).

Counties must allow 18- and 19-year old teen parents who do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent to choose an Employment Plan (EP) with either an education option or a work option. See 0028.06.03 (Who Must Participate in Empl. Services/SNAP E&T), 0028.15 (Employment Plan).

The following are EXEMPTIONS from the school attendance requirement:

● Transportation services needed to attend school are not available.

● Appropriate child care services are not available.

● The caregiver is ill or disabled seriously enough to prevent school attendance.

● The caregiver is needed in the home because of the professionally certified illness or disability of another member of the assistance unit, a relative or who is a foster child in the household.

● The caregiver is the parent of a child who is younger than 6 weeks old.

When you deny an exemption, send a SPEC/LETR of exemption denial to the caregiver.

If a caregiver who is not exempt from school requirements fails to attend school, without good cause, impose a sanction. See 0028.18 (Good Cause for Non-Compliance--MFIP/DWP), 0028.30 (Sanctions for Failure to Comply - Cash).

Social Services will notify you if they determine that education is inappropriate for a custodial parent under age 18. Do not impose any other school attendance requirements unless Social Services notifies you to do so.

Caregivers who are required to attend school must meet enrollment and attendance requirements. Verify enrollment and attendance information at least monthly. Have the client sign the Request for Verification of School Attendance/Progress (DHS- 2883) (PDF) or a county version of the form that contains the same information and send it to the school. Do not sanction the parent if the school fails to cooperate.

Caregivers must meet enrollment and attendance requirements at the time of verification. If the school verification shows that a client is not enrolled or attending school, or appears to be facing barriers to completing education, notify the person responsible for case management and reassess the client's school attendance requirement.

DWP: Generally follow MFIP. Also see 0013.05 (DWP Bases of Eligibility).