THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents
FROM:	James A. Kadamus
COMMITTEE:	EMSC-VESID
TITLE OF ITEM:	Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Education for Gainful Employment Program
DATE OF SUBMISSION:	April 23, 2004
PROPOSED HANDLING:	Discussion
RATIONALE FOR ITEM:	Update References to Education Programs
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY:

 

Attached is a proposed amendment of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to amend section 164.1 relating to the Education for Gainful Employment (EDGE) program.  Supporting materials for the proposed amendment are available upon request from the Secretary to the Board of Regents.  The proposed amendment will be submitted for approval in July.

 

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to replace references to the Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program and the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with, respectively, the Education for Gainful Employment (EDGE) program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.  The federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. Law 104-193) repealed the JOBS and AFDC programs, and created the TANF program.  The proposed amendment will set forth the description, eligibility criteria and allowable activities for programs funded under the Welfare Education Program (WEP).  A portion of WEP is sub-allocated for a match for TANF funds to create the EDGE program, which is administered in partnership with the State Department of Labor.

 

A Notice of Proposed Rule Making will be published in the State Register no later than May 5, 2004.

 

 

Attachment

AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

            Pursuant to Education Law sections 207 and 3713 and section 1 of Chapter 53 of the Laws of 2003.

            Subdivision (g) of section 164.1 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective September 30, 2004, as follows:

(g)       [Job opportunities and basic skills training (JOBS) program] Education for Gainful Employment (EDGE) program.  Application for grants for adult basic education and literacy programs which are designated by the commissioner to support activities under the [State job opportunities and basic skills training] Education for Gainful Employment program for [aid to families with dependent children] temporary assistance to needy families shall meet all the requirements of this section except:

            (1)       degree­granting institutions and public and private not­for­profit agencies which include but are not limited to school districts, boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES), community based organizations, literacy volunteer organizations, and libraries shall be eligible to receive awards;

            (2)       the commissioner shall approve programs designed to assist [recipients of public assistance to attain gainful employment] those eligible for temporary assistance to needy families services, including, but not limited to, child care, case management, assessment, counseling, transportation, occupational education and training, work experience and training for employment readiness;

            (3)       the building, rooms or space in which staff and students are housed for any purpose while attending school, and all facilities and equipment therein, shall meet the standards for school purposes of local fire, health and building authorities;

            (4)       the date for submission of applications for awards to offer [JOBS-related] EDGE­related education programs for pubic assistance shall be no later than October 1st of the year in which application is made [provided that for program year October 1, 1990 through September 30, 1991 such applications shall be made no later than June 30, 1991].