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their training in about a year, but they can stay as long as two years. Corps members receive training in such fields as: clerk-typing; data entry; carpentry; plumbing; nurse aide; welding and electricity. • Basic skills education and English as Second Language (ESL) activities may be counted under vocational education only if these activities are a necessary or regular part of the vocational education training program in which the participant is enrolled. The requirement for or integration of such activities must be supported by written documentation from the vocational education component provider. Basic skills education and ESL cannot count under vocational education as stand-alone programs. Stand-alone programs must be tracked and reported under the appropriate component/session which may or may not be countable in the participation rate calculation. • Distance learning programs are computer based educational activities that provide formal training during which the student is not in the same physical location as the instructor. Course work is completed online through an accredited educational institution or internet-based provider. Students may or may not have direct interaction with instructors but must be able to communicate with instructors electronically or via telephone. Distance learning activities that meet the definition of vocational education or job skills training directly related to employment will be considered. Distance learning programs must include mechanisms for providing reports that demonstrate how online course work will be supervised and monitored, as well as how the actual time engaged in online educational activities will be documented, verified and reported to the local county Department of Human Services. • The MDES interviewer may require distance learning program TWP participants to provide reports that demonstrate how online course work will be supervised and monitored, as well as how the actual time engaged in online educational activities will be documented, verified and reported. Until further notice, distance learning activities must be reviewed and approved prior to placement. The MDES office manager or designee must verify the vocational education or jobs skills training directly relates to employment activities.

• Until further notice, distance learning activities must be reviewed and approved by the TANF Work Program Unit, prior to approval as vocational education or jobs skills training directly related to employment activities. The case manager must obtain appropriate documentation to support the distance learning program, complete the TANF Work Program Distance Learning Activity form, MDHS-EA-352A, and forward the documentation to the regional director, via the county director, for review, comments and recommendation. The regional director will review the documentation and, if the distance learning activities are Volume III | Chapter 9 9082 MISSISSIPPI [ PROGRAM COMPONENTS: TANF WORK ACTIVITES DEFINED]

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