Page 671

Vocational Education - “Core” Activity Vocational education (not to exceed 12 months) is defined as organized educational programs which offer a sequence of courses directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations that do not require an advanced degree. Such programs will include competency-based applied learning which contributes in an individual’s academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning, and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, and the occupational-specific knowledge and skills that prepare participants for a specific trade, occupation, or vocation. Vocational education programs must be provided by education or training organizations, such as vocational-technical schools, community colleges, post-secondary institutions, proprietary schools, distance learning program providers, nonprofit organizations, and secondary schools that offer vocational education. All work activity assignments defined as vocational education will be tracked under the VOC/EDU (subject to the 12-month limitation) or JST/JST component assignments. Educational programs leading to an advance degree (Master’s, PhD, etc.) are not countable as vocational education, but may be counted as job skills training directly related to employment (JST/JST) which is a non-core activity. Daily supervision may be provided by faculty, instructors, instructional aides, lab supervisors and supervisors of study sessions or work-based learning activities. The participant will maintain daily attendance records via form MDHS-EA-356, TWP Participant Attendance Report, which will be submitted to case management each Monday for the previous week. The case manager will maintain contact with the educational provider while the participant is enrolled, as appropriate, but not less than monthly.

The MDES interviewer is responsible for monitoring vocational education activities. Attendance data for all TWP participants in the vocational education component will be documented by the MDES interviewer and submitted to the MDHS case manager via the MDHS-EA-356D, TWP Bi-Weekly Attendance Report. The MDHS case manager will review and enter the attendance information in JAWS upon receipt. The MDES interviewer will review and validate all attendance information prior to submitting to the MDHS case manager. The MDES interviewer will determine when the TWP participant will report and/or submit attendance information. NOTE: If the individual receives financial aid which includes an allowance for child care and/or transportation expenses, the individual will not be eligible for TANF supportive services for these expenses for time spent in vocational education activities.

9080 Types of Vocational Education There are a variety of types of vocational education programs that are allowed under the definition of vocational education training: They include: • Post-secondary educational programs are courses of study at an accredited four-year