Rule 5101:4-9-07.4 | SNAP E&T education.
(A) What is education?
Education is a component that provides a wide range of activities that improve the basic skills and employability of enrolled participants. County agencies are to design their education programs to at least accomplish the following objectives:
(1) Supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) employment and training (E&T) enrolled participants will participate in activities that directly enhance their employability; and
(2) SNAP E&T enrolled participants with basic skills deficiencies will participate in activities designed to measurably improve basic skills and literacy.
(B) What activities are included in education?
(1) Basic education, which includes:
(a) High school or equivalent education;
(b) Remedial education;
(c) Adult basic education;
(d) Basic literacy education; and
(e) Instructional programs in English as a second language (ESL).
(2) Vocational education, which includes:
(a) Occupational training in technical job skills and equivalent knowledge and abilities in a specific occupational area;
(b) Post-secondary education; and
(c) Training offered by other entities such as public secondary schools and public and private entities.
(3) Job readiness training activities which include, but are not limited to:
(a) Identifying and overcoming personal barriers to employment;
(b) Building self-confidence and self-promotion;
(c) Good grooming and dress techniques;
(d) Managing time, money, and household budgets;
(e) Obtaining proper dependent care and supervision of dependents while working;
(f) Conducting self-assessments to determine employment options and training needs;
(g) Learning and using good interviewing techniques;
(h) Understanding employer expectations;
(i) Understanding benefits, taxes, deductions, and hospitalization policies;
(j) Being prompt and punctual for work;
(k) Accepting supervision positively;
(l) Relating to other employees; or
(m) Retaining the job as a step toward security and independence.
(4) Educational programs include, but are not limited to, courses or programs of study that are a part of a program of career and technical education. "Career and technical education" means:
(a) A specialized public secondary school used exclusively or principally for the provision of career and technical education to individuals who are available for study in preparation for entering the labor market;
(b) The department of a public secondary school exclusively or principally used for providing career and technical education in not fewer than three different fields that are available to all students, especially in high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations;
(c) A public or nonprofit technical institution or career and technical education school used exclusively or principally for the provision of career and technical education to individuals who have completed or left secondary school and who are available for study in preparation for entering the labor market, if the institution or school admits, as regular students, individuals who have completed secondary school and individuals who have left secondary school; or
(d) The department or division of an institution of higher education, that operates under the policies of the eligible agency and that provides career and technical education in not fewer than three different occupational fields leading to immediate employment but not necessarily leading to a baccalaureate degree, if the department or division admits, as regular students, both individuals who have completed secondary school and individuals who have left secondary school.
(5) Other programs or activities that expand the employability of SNAP E&T enrolled participants.
(C) How are education activities to be implemented?
(1) Each educational activity is to have a direct-link to job readiness.
(2) SNAP E&T funds that are used for educational activities are not to supplant non-federal funds for existing educational services and activities and SNAP E&T is not to be charged more than what the general public would pay for the same service.
(3) Basic education: Participation in this educational activity is to be based on the goal of obtaining employment.
(4) Vocational education: Participation in this educational activity should assist enrolled participants in obtaining useful employment in a recognized occupation. Vocational education may include: occupational training in technical job skills and equivalent knowledge and abilities in a specific occupational area; post-secondary education; and training offered by other entities such as public secondary schools and public and private entities. Ohio has aligned the allowable programs to those administered by providers found on the workforce inventory of education and training (WIET) list.
(5) Job readiness training: Participation in this educational activity should expand the employability of enrolled participants by ensuring they become familiar with general workplace expectations and exhibit work behavior and attitudes necessary to compete successfully in the labor market. Various types of structured programs qualify, such as rehabilitation, counseling, employability assessments, training in techniques for employability, and job placement services.
(6) Educational programs: Participation in this educational activity should assist the enrolled participant in obtaining useful employment in a recognized occupation. These educational programs may be offered concurrently or contextually with basic education or vocational education. An educational program, course or program of study does not have to receive funding from the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) to be considered meeting the definition of a career and technical education program.
(7) Other programs or activities: Other educational and training activities are allowable when the case manager has determined participation will expand the employability of the enrolled participant and there is a direct link between the activity and job readiness.
(D) Who is best suited for participation in education?
In addition to the suitability criteria described in rule 5101:4-9-02 of the Administrative Code, a SNAP E&T case manager is to consider the following prior to making an assignment:
(1) The SNAP E&T enrolled participant should have already attained the necessary credentials (if any) to enter the program.
(2) For basic education activities, the SNAP E&T enrolled participant does not possess basic literacy skills (whether or not they have obtained a high school diploma or equivalent education).
(3) For job readiness training, the SNAP E&T enrolled participant should be ready to work, but could benefit from enhanced techniques related to seeking employment or may benefit from additional "soft skills" training.
(E) What are the limitations on participating in education?
(1) Educational activities may vary in length, depending on the course work. As part of ongoing progress monitoring, the SNAP E&T case manager is to ensure that SNAP E&T enrolled participants are making satisfactory progress and that they are likely to complete the course(s) as scheduled.
(2) Assignments to educational activities are not to be perpetual and the SNAP E&T case manager is to ensure the SNAP E&T enrolled participant explored employment opportunities at the conclusion of each assignment.
Last updated October 1, 2024 at 9:38 AM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 5101.54, 329.04
Five Year Review Date: 10/1/2029
Prior Effective Dates: 3/1/1983, 7/1/1984, 8/1/1985, 3/1/1987, 12/1/1987 (Emer.), 2/15/1988, 1/1/1989, 6/30/1989 (Emer.), 9/23/1989, 4/2/1990, 11/1/1990, 4/1/1991, 7/1/1991, 10/1/1991 (Emer.), 5/1/1992, 9/1/1993, 11/1/1993, 2/1/1994 (Emer.), 4/15/1994, 12/1/1995 (Emer.), 2/19/1996, 7/1/1996 (Emer.), 9/29/1996, 10/1/1997 (Emer.), 12/1/1997 (Emer.), 12/20/1997, 1/8/1998, 1/20/2003, 12/29/2006 (Emer.), 1/8/2007, 10/1/2007, 10/1/2008 (Emer.), 12/18/2008, 2/1/2012, 1/1/2013, 7/1/2017, 9/1/2018, 11/1/2019, 11/18/2021, 6/16/2022, 10/1/2023