Section 20-76-443 - Education and training(a)(1) The Department of Human Services shall permit Transitional Employment Assistance Program recipients to obtain the education and training they need to obtain jobs that pay wages allowing them to be economically self-sufficient.(2) Program recipients who are assessed as having basic education deficiencies shall be allowed to combine educational activities leading to a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma approved by the Adult Education Section and employment and work experience. Participants may be required to engage in internships, work experience, or employment. Work requirements shall not exceed fifteen (15) hours per week unless the department certifies that allowing education to count toward Transitional Employment Assistance Program recipients' required work activities would affect the state's ability to meet federal work participation rates. To the extent possible, educational activities shall take place in a work context.(3)(A) Qualified Transitional Employment Assistance Program recipients shall be allowed to enroll in vocational education courses designed to prepare them for jobs in high-growth, high-wage occupations.(B) As long as the recipient's coursework, including study time, exceeds the minimum number of work activity hours required to count toward federal work participation rates, this activity alone shall satisfy the recipient's required work activity.(C)(i) If a recipient's coursework, including study time, does not exceed the minimum number of work activity hours required to count toward federal work participation rates, the recipient may be required to engage in internships or work experience related to the course of study.(ii) However, the combination of work activities and the recipient's coursework shall not exceed the minimum number of work activity hours required to count toward federal work participation rates.(D)(i) The department may suspend the allowance to enroll only if the Arkansas Workforce Development Board certifies that allowing education to count toward a Transitional Employment Assistance Program recipient's required work activities would affect the state's ability to meet federal work participation rates.(ii) Upon certification, the department may require all recipients to engage in work activities for the number of hours required to count toward the federal work participation rates.(4)(A) Qualified Transitional Employment Assistance Program recipients shall be allowed to enroll in postsecondary courses leading to a two-year or four-year degree or a five-year teaching degree.(B) As long as the recipient's coursework, including study time, exceeds the minimum number of work activity hours required to count toward federal work participation rates, this activity alone shall satisfy the recipient's required work activity.(C)(i) If a recipient's coursework does not exceed the minimum number of work activity hours required to count toward federal work participation rates, the recipient may be required to engage in internships or work experience related to the course of study.(ii) However, the combination of work activities and the recipient's coursework shall not exceed the minimum number of work activity hours required to count toward federal work participation rates.(D)(i) The department may suspend the allowance to enroll only if the board certifies that allowing education to count toward a program recipient's required work activities would affect the state's ability to meet federal work participation rates.(ii) Upon certification, the department may require all recipients to engage in work activities for the number of hours required to count toward the federal work participation rates.(5) Participants under each of these options shall be provided the supportive services they need to attend classes and other educational activities, including, at least, child care and transportation.(b) Transitional Employment Assistance Program recipients shall be assigned to work activities that prepare them for long-term economic self-sufficiency, including basic, vocational, and postsecondary education when appropriate.(c) Participation in combined work and education activities shall be deemed to meet Transitional Employment Assistance Program recipients' work activity requirements. The department may require additional or fewer hours of federally defined work activities if it certifies that the state may not meet federal work participation rates after taking into account the caseload reduction credit because recipients enrolled in educational courses are not required to engage in federally defined work activities for the minimum number of hours.(d)(1) For a qualified Transitional Employment Assistance Program recipient enrolled in a two-year college, the education program created in this section shall pay for child care for the recipient's children for both day and evening classes.(2) The Department of Human Services and the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission jointly shall promulgate rules to develop an evening childcare program with extended hours under subdivision (d)(1) of this section.Amended by Act 2023, No. 832,§ 16, eff. 7/1/2023.Amended by Act 2023, No. 832,§ 15, eff. 7/1/2023.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 531, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 530, eff. 7/1/2019.Amended by Act 2015, No. 1115,§ 28, eff. 7/22/2015.Amended by Act 2013, No. 1132,§ 46, eff. 8/16/2013.Acts 1999, No. 1567, § 22; 2003, No. 1306, § 6; 2005, No. 1705, § 18; 2007, No. 514, §§ 19, 20; 2009, No. 1485, § 1.