Vocational education and training is any formalized training program that prepares individuals for current or emerging occupations. This training must lead to a certificate, license, or degree.
A Temporary Assistance (TA) recipient can only count this activity toward their work participation requirements for a lifetime limit of 12 calendar months. They can participate in a Vocational Education and Training work activity past the 12 calendar months; they just need to meet their work participation requirements in other activities.
This is a core activity for TA recipients, but can also be used to meet non-core hourly requirements.
Countable hours for Vocational Education and Training include:
NOTE: Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and remedial and basic education is counted as Vocational Education and Training only if these activities are clearly required by a student evaluation stating they are necessary to complete the required vocational coursework, or to become employable in that course of study. The LEP and/or remedial or basic education should either accompany the regularly required coursework, or be available during a summer or other “interim” session between regular terms. The LEP requirement must be embedded in the student’s required coursework.
The training provider must be approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). In rare cases, these criteria may be waived on a case-by-case basis. This can occur when a training provider is in the process of becoming an approved entity or when there is no approved provider in the area and another acceptable, but not approved program is available. Providers are encouraged to obtain the necessary approval by DESE.
The Individual Employment Plan (IEP) documents the need for training. Training is approved only in growing and/or stable occupations directly linked to employment opportunities. The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) website at www.missourieconomy.org contains Occupational Employment Projections to help locate stable and/or growing occupations. When training is requested in an occupation that is in a declining field, the training is approved only if the recipient has a letter from a company that states they intend to hire the recipient upon completion of the training.
The MWA Assessment Verification form documents:
A countable hour is equal to an hour being assessed. After documentation is obtained, the hours are entered under the Occupational/Vocational Education and Training service on the Participation Hours Verification or the Mass Participation Hours Verification screen in the MWA System. The documentation is placed in the paper file. Case notes are entered indicating which hour(s) of this activity are assessment hours.
The MWA Attendance Log or statements that include information from the MWA Attendance Log from an instructor or other supervisory personnel are required documentation for these Vocational Education and Training activities:
The TA recipient provides a class schedule to their case manager at the start of each term of the course of study or a statement from the instructor or other supervisory personnel that indicates their class schedule. Some programs include “clinicals” or hands-on lab work which is part of the educational institution’s scheduling practices--these hours are countable.
A countable hour is equal to an hour of classroom time. After documentation is obtained, the hours are entered under the Occupational/Vocational Education and Training Service on the Participation Hours Verification or the Mass Participation Hours Verification screen in the MWA System.
Distance Learning is documented by:
Recipients provide a training or class schedule at the start of each term for the course of study, or a statement from the instructor or other supervisory personnel with this information, and a written or verbal statement stating the hours of “normal” class time required. A schedule of the hours of class time per day normally required for the class can also be provided. If the TA recipient cannot obtain this information, the school may be contacted by the MWA service provider. Verbal verification of this information is acceptable. A countable hour is determined by the classroom time for individuals in a classroom setting. After documentation is obtained, the hours are entered under the Occupational/Vocational Education and Training Service on the Participation Hours Verification or the Mass Participation Hours Verification screen in the MWA System.
One hour of unsupervised study time for each hour of class time is allowed for all activities under Vocational Education and Training except:
Total homework/study time counted for participation cannot exceed the hours required or advised by a particular educational institution. Therefore, if normally there is no homework time, no unsupervised study time is allowed.
Example: A cosmetology school may not have assigned “homework” time. Therefore no unsupervised study time is allowed as meeting the work participation hourly requirement.
Vocational Education and Training allows for excused absences and holidays. Refer to Section 0270.030.00 Excused Absences and Section 0270.035.00 Holidays for more information.
The signed MWA Attendance Log, or other written or electronic methods of “check-in” containing daily monitoring of attendance completed by the instructor or other supervisory staff fulfills the daily supervision requirement for Vocational Education and Training activities. Grades, student evaluations, and daily journals from the instructor may also be used as documentation of daily supervision and guidance.