808.39 Post Secondary Education (FAM) |
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Post Secondary Education is defined as a program of study beyond high school or its equivalent leading to an associate’s degree or higher. The activity can only be counted as a core activity for a lifetime maximum of 12 months.
An extension beyond the limits may be granted for a maximum of 3 months if deemed necessary in order to provide for successful transition to employment. Any extension beyond the 12 months is counted as a secondary activity.
Participant Referral Criteria
The NHEP representative must consider the following specific referral criteria in addition to the general referral criteria in Section 808.25, Referrals to Other Activities, in order to refer to the Post Secondary Educational activity:
• the participant’s immediate marketability of current skills, experience and education;
• the participant’s ability to achieve self-sufficiency without a Post Secondary Educational program;
• the participant’s ability to successfully complete a Post Secondary Educational program;
• the participant’s ability to access support services needed to participate in a Post Secondary Educational program, such as NH Child Care Scholarship and transportation; and
• job opportunities are currently available in the local labor market in the field of the Post Secondary Educational program.
Activity Requirement
The Post Secondary Educational program must meet the following criteria:
• be consistent with employment goals as defined on the EP;
• have a reasonable expectation that the degree will result in the participant obtaining employment; and
• be vocationally specific in a recognized occupational area.
Distance learning is a permissible method of instruction when prior approval is authorized by BFA State Office.
Participation Requirements
To determine actual hours of weekly participation, count:
• the actual hours spent in the classroom, verified by the instructor;
• any additional hours outside the classroom if:
- required by the school;
- completed in a supervised setting; and
- verified by the school; and
• one hour of unsupervised homework or study time for each hour of actual classroom time, if required by the school.
For the distance learning activity, the participant must have a statement on file from the school or instructor documenting the weekly time expectations for the course. That amount indicated by the school or instructor is the maximum that the participant can count towards participation in that activity for a week. Participants must document all the time spent on coursework and there is no allowance for homework time for the distance learning activity.
If the individual is not meeting minimum participation requirements in the Post Secondary Education activity, enroll the individual in an additional NHEP activity.
The hours of participation, between the minimum and maximum, should be based on what is necessary for the participant to achieve self-sufficiency, and not on the minimum hours set by federal law. When appropriate to support employment goals and self-sufficiency, other activities may be combined with the vocational skills activity.
Documentation and Verification
NHEP participants must use Form NHEP266, NHEP Education/Training Activities Verification Form, to verify weekly participation in education and training activities. These activities are supervised no less frequently than daily. The countable hours are verified and documented no less than once a month.
Form NHEP275, NHEP Distance Learning Activity Log, can be used to verify time spent in distance learning activities such as web-based classes or trainings. Participants in distance learning must also verify with an NHEP representative that they are making progress in their course through the submission of corrected quizzes, tests, papers, and emails from the instructor.
Time Limits
All approved Post Secondary studies that lead to a Post Secondary degree count as a:
• core activity for a maximum lifetime limit of 12 months; or
• secondary activity if;
- the 12 month lifetime limit has been exhausted;
- completion of the degree or certificate program does not exceed an additional 3 months; and
- completion of the program is essential for the participant’s transition into employment.
Exception: The time limit specified above for degree programs does not apply to participants with a documented learning disability verified by a state certified educational professional or licensed psychologist. For extension of participation time, the documentation must specify the need and length of time required.
Support Services
The following support services may be authorized for this activity:
• NH Child Care Scholarship; and
• transportation assistance (payment to enrolled public/private carriers, mileage and auto repair reimbursement).
Previous Educational Degrees
When determining the need for additional Post Secondary Educational programs for participants with a previous certificate, diploma, degree, or previous Post Secondary Educational credits, the NHEP Representative shall consider the following:
• significant labor market changes affecting the occupation in which education or training has been previously received;
• the participant no longer possesses the needed abilities to perform the job functions of the educational or training program received due to a documented disability; or
• that the NHEP participant’s previous educational or training program may have been interrupted due to a major personal emergency, which caused the participant to drop out, and is now resolved.
References: He-W 637’s; He-W 655’s; RSA 167:79; RSA 167:82; RSA 167:85; RSA 167:86; RSA 167:88
Editorial Revisions Made: 12/2023