1. (a)

   1. (1) The purpose of educational expenses is to cover costs not covered by financial aid.
   2. (2) The participant must explore all other options before requesting assistance.
   3. (3) The Program Eligibility Specialist should advise the participant to visit the educational institution’s financial aid office.
2. (b) High school and other basic education. Costs for books and other necessities associated with obtaining a high school diploma, GED, basic skills, literacy, etc., may be paid by transitional employment assistance (TEA).

3. (c) Career and technical education.

   1. (1) TEA funds may be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, etc., only when no other funding sources are available and with the approval of the local office.
   2. (2) This may include college expenses in those situations in which a college course of study is considered as career and technical education (see 20 CAR § 503-134) and no other financial assistance is available to meet those expenses.
4. (d) Jobs skills training. The costs associated with this activity may be paid by TEA funds.

5. (e) College courses. TEA funds may be used to pay for books and/or tuition for a nonvocational college course of study when the following criteria are met:

   1. (1) The adult (student) is working at least twenty-five (25) hours per week in college work study or other unsubsidized employment;
   2. (2) There is no other financial assistance available to pay the college costs, e.g., PELL grant, etc.; and
   3. (3) The student has enough time left of his or her twenty-four-month time limit to complete the course of study before TEA cash assistance ends.

6. (f)

   1. (1) In order to use TEA funds to pay for educational expenses, the Program Eligibility Specialist will have to agree that the course of study being pursued by the participant is appropriate based on the participant’s employment plan.
   2. (2) Once a course of study has been approved and begun, TEA funds will not be used to pay for a new course of study if the participant does not complete the prior course unless the Program Eligibility Specialist determines there was a valid reason for the noncompletion.

7. (g) Note.

   1. (1) Educational expenses do not cover incidentals that are not considered necessities for completing a course of study or obtaining a degree.
   2. (2) Incidentals include, but are not limited to, caps and gowns and invitations.

8. (h)

   1. (1) Participants engaged in career and technical education are expected to explore all possible sources for financial assistance with their educational needs and provide information regarding that as requested by the local office.
   2. (2) The Program Eligibility Specialist will provide reasonable assistance needed by the participant to ensure that all appropriate resources have been explored.
   3. (3) The assistance provided by the Program Eligibility Specialist should be that which is needed to ensure the participant is able to begin the course of study (listing funding sources, listing type of financial assistance, contacting schools, etc.).
   4. (4) If it is determined that TEA funds should be used for career and technical educational expenses, the Program Eligibility Specialist will document that career and technical education is the most appropriate activity and that no other funding is available.
9. (i) The request to use TEA funds to pay for tuition, fees, books, etc., for career and technical education or college courses must be approved by the local office manager.

10. (j)

    1. (1) The participant will need to provide information to the Program Eligibility Specialist to verify financial aid is not available and reasonable assistance is needed.
    2. (2) The Program Eligibility Specialist and supervisor will review participant’s request for assistance before approval can be given.
11. (k) The Program Eligibility Specialist will document all information obtained by the participant for approval by the local office manager.

12. (l)

    1. (1) If it is determined the participant request is reasonable, educational assistance can be approved.
    2. (2) The Program Eligibility Specialist will complete and provide TEA-1427, Provider Service Authorization, to the educational expense provider to show approval of expense.
    3. (3) The provider will complete the TEA-1400, Provider Agreement, and the TEA-187, Billing/Routing Sheet, and submit all required documentation before payment can be processed. Example 1: Ms. Smith would like to become a nursing assistant and has found out that a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course is currently being taught at the local community college but that there is no financial aid available for this course. If the Program Eligibility Specialist agrees that the proposed course of study is appropriate and has validated that no other funding is available, then the Program Eligibility Specialist may submit a request to the local office manager for approval to use TEA funds to pay for needed training expenses. Example 2: Ms. Jones is in her second semester of her junior year at University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a political science major. She is currently working twenty-five (25) hours per week at a nearby restaurant. It is verified that there is no other financial assistance available to pay for her current semester’s books and tuition and therefore, she has requested for TEA to pay those costs for her so she can continue her education. She has only received TEA cash assistance for one (1) month so it is feasible that she can obtain her degree before her time limit is reached. Because she meets the criteria listed above and the local office has determined her college costs should be paid, TEA funds can be used to pay those costs.
13. (m) Educational expenses under this section are in addition to any other activity-related expenses described in 20 CAR § 503-208, e.g., transportation, child care, etc.

Codification Notes: “GED” means General Educational Development.