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Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services July 7, 2018 Human & Community Services Page 2 of 3 household. Should this parent be a full time student, then the parent would not have to meet a work requirement. When the parent’s employer is a licensed or registered child care facility, the parent must have a completed Best Beginnings Work Verification Form signed by the director of the child care facility. The parent must be on the approved caregiver list for the facility at the time of their annual redetermination to be approved. Parent with a Disability The activity requirement for a parent unable to provide care for the child may be waived if the following conditions are met:  A parent who meets the definition for an Individual with a Disability may be approved by the Early Childhood Services Bureau to meet the activity requirement. The parent must also be unable to provide care for a child.  In a two-parent household, if one parent is disabled and unable to work, the remaining parent must meet the single parent work requirement. Employed and/or Attending School/Training If the family meets the eligibility requirements for employment, a Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship may be available to parents attending post-secondary education, vocational training, high school, High School Equivalency Assessment [HiSET] or other equivalency programs which will lead to a recognized occupation for which jobs exist within Montana. [Refer to Department of Labor information regarding employment in Montana]. All of the following restrictions apply:  Number of credits parent is enrolled in must be verified through class schedule and fee receipts.  Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarships are not available for training and education activities if a parent has earned a post-secondary education degree or training certificate within the last five years. o NOTE: A student who enrolls in a continuous four-year program, which happens to issue a two-year certificate or degree at the midpoint of the student’s intended educational goal, is not subject to this five-year limitation.  If the parent received the last post-secondary education degree or training certificate over five years ago, a Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship may be allowed for a second certificate or bachelor’s degree. Distance Learning/Online Coursework Distance Learning/On-line coursework a student receives from a college or university accredited by the U.S. Department of Education [http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation] is acceptable if, in addition to fulfilling all other eligibility requirements outlined in this section, the student is formally enrolled in the college or university and has an educational plan and projected graduation date. All other eligibility requirements as outlined in Policy Section 2-3 must be met in order to have Distance Learning/On-line coursework approved. Teen Parents A teen parent who needs child care in order to attend high school, High School Equivalency Assessment [HiSET] or other equivalency program may be eligible for a child care scholarship. The student’s work requirement is waived while attending high school, HiSET, or an equivalency