8.2.2.3 Aggregating Education and Training Hours

CSJ or W-2 T participants who want to enroll in a short-term intensive training program that requires more than 10 or 12 hours of participation per week, may use more than 10 or 12 hours per week of education and training activities so long as they do not exceed 516 hours total within a one-year period. This is called the aggregation policy.

The aggregation policy can be used for education and training programs that:

A W-2 T and CSJ participant can complete within a one-year period; and

Do not exceed 516 hours of required participation in education and training activity per year.

In addition to the education and training activities, the FEP Financial and Employment Planner must assign work training activities each week, not to exceed a total of 40 hours of participation per week.

When the aggregation policy is used, The FEP must document in PIN comments the:

Amount of aggregated education and training hours;

Occupational skills to be gained; and

Expected number of weeks needed to complete the training.

Wisconsin’s Technical College system offers many one- and two- semester certificate programs accessible to W-2 participants under the aggregated education and training policy.

EXAMPLE: Jennifer is a W-2 participant placed in a CSJ. Jennifer decides she wants to enroll in a short-term intensive training program and enrolls at her local technical college in a 16-week certificate program.

Lecture time and lab work requires her to attend school 20 hours per week. In addition, her instructor provides a written statement estimating that Jennifer will need to spend 10 hours per week studying.

Using the aggregation policy, the FEP assigns her to participate in a total of 40 hours per week:

30 hours per week in the program; and

10 hours per week of work training activities.

Jennifer’s total aggregated education and training time over this 16-week timeframe is 480 hours (30 hours per week x 16 weeks), keeping her within the aggregation policy’s one-year completion period and the 516-hour yearly limit.

If the FEP is unsuccessful in connecting Jennifer to unsubsidized employment after she completes her short-term intensive training program, her hours of participation in education and training activities are limited to the following:

For the remainder of the year, beginning with the date of her assignment to the education and training program, Jennifer cannot be assigned to more than 36 hours of education and training (516 – 480 = 36).

One year following the date of her assignment to the education and training program, if Jennifer is still in a CSJ placement, 10 hours per week of education and training activity may be assigned.