OAR 461-190-0199: Parents as Scholars

(1) Notwithstanding any other provision in Chapter 461 of the Oregon Administrative Rules, effective July 1, 2011, participation in Parents as Scholars (PAS) is limited to clients approved for PAS as of June 30, 2011. Any other PAS applicant is not eligible for enrollment in PAS, including a client on the PAS wait list after June 30, 2011. The Department does not process any application for PAS received after June 30, 2011. (2) PAS is a JOBS program component that assists TANF parents who are or will be undergraduates to begin or continue their education at a two- or four-year educational institution. (3) The following definitions apply to PAS: (a) "Educational institution" means any post-secondary educational institution approved or accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, by its regional equivalent, or by the appropriate official, department, or agency of the state or nation in which the institution is located and that is: (A) A four-year college or university; (B) A junior college or community college; or (C) A technical, professional or career school. (b) "Participant" refers to a participant in the PAS component of the JOBS program. (c) "PAS" means the Parents as Scholars component of the JOBS program. (4) The number of participants in PAS in a calendar year is limited as follows: (a) The number of participants in PAS in a calendar year may not exceed one percent of the number of households receiving TANF on January 1 of that calendar year. (b) If one percent of the number of households receiving TANF on January 1 of the current calendar year is less than one percent of the number of households receiving TANF on January 1 of the previous calendar year, the Department will not fill PAS slots vacated on or after January 1 of the current calendar year until the total number of slots is equal to one percent of the households receiving TANF for the current calendar year. (5) A PAS participant receives TANF cash assistance as well as necessary support services provided through the JOBS program. JOBS support services: (a) May not be used to pay for the cost of tuition and fees associated with enrollment by a participant at an educational institution. (b) Subject to the limitations of OAR 461-190-0211, may be used to pay for books and supplies associated with enrollment by a participant at an educational institution subject to the following provisions: (A) The books and supplies are required for completion of the participant's coursework at an educational institution; (B) There is no other funding available to the PAS participant for books and supplies; and (C) No more than $100 per academic term or semester may be paid per PAS participant for books and supplies. (6) Applying for PAS. A parent who is applying for or receiving TANF may apply for PAS by completing and signing the PAS application and submitting it to the Department. The application and other documentation required by this rule must be submitted to Department of Human Services JOBS Unit (PAS), 2nd Floor, 500 Summer Street NE E48, Salem, Oregon 97301. (7) PAS Selection Process; Wait List. (a) PAS applications received from PAS applicants will be processed in the order in which the Department receives the applications. (b) If the maximum number of PAS slots for a calendar year has not been filled, the Department will notify an applicant when he or she has been approved. (c) When the maximum number of PAS slots for a calendar year has been filled and there is a wait list, the Department will notify an applicant when he or she has been added to the wait list. (d) Once each year, the Department will contact PAS applicants on the wait list to determine if the PAS applicant's name should be removed from the wait list. (e) When the maximum number of PAS slots for a calendar year has been filled and there is a wait list and a PAS slot becomes available, the Department will notify the next applicant on the wait list that an opening has become available. (f) The Department will inform an applicant for PAS who does not qualify or no longer qualifies for placement on the wait list because the applicant becomes ineligible for TANF or no longer meets the requirements of this rule. (8) Selection Requirements. (a) A PAS applicant must meet the financial and nonfinancial eligibility requirements for TANF. (b) A PAS applicant who is not applying for or receiving TANF at the time of selection may not participate in PAS or remain on the wait list. (c) A PAS applicant must include documentation that the PAS applicant is an undergraduate who has been accepted for full-time attendance into or is enrolled full-time at an educational institution. (d) A PAS applicant must demonstrate as part of the PAS application that completion of the educational program is likely to result in employment that provides the wages and benefits necessary for the applicant to support the applicant's family without TANF. (9) Requirements of Participants; Limitations. (a) A participant must provide documentation to the Department quarterly, or following completion of each academic term at the educational institution, that the participant is making satisfactory academic progress, as defined by the educational institution, toward a degree. (b) A participant must provide documentation to the Department, prior to the start of each new academic term or semester, that the PAS applicant is an undergraduate who is enrolled full-time at an educational institution. (c) A participant must attend classes full-time as defined by the educational institution, unless there is good cause (see OAR 461-130-0327) to limit attendance to less than full-time. (d) Unless there is good cause for not attending year round, a participant must either: (A) Attend classes year round, including during the summer if classes are offered by the educational institution; or (B) If not attending classes year round, participate in work experience related to the field of study of the participant when not attending classes. If a work experience related to the participant's field of study is not available, participate in another appropriate work experience. (e) During the first twelve months of participation in PAS, a participant must record attendance and homework time weekly and must provide this information to the Department no less frequently than monthly. (f) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a participant must remain eligible for TANF. (g) If a participant becomes temporarily ineligible for TANF during a period of four or fewer months due to income from a paid work experience, the applicant may retain their PAS slot when school resumes if: (A) The participant regains TANF eligibility; and (B) PAS is still an appropriate activity for the participant. (10) Ending PAS. PAS is ended for a PAS participant when: (a) The PAS participant completes his or her degree program; (b) Except as provided in subsection (9)(g) of this rule, the PAS participant becomes ineligible for TANF; or (c) All of the following are true: (A) The PAS participant fails to meet one or more of the requirements of subsections (9)(a) through (9)(e) of this rule; (B) Attempts to re-engage the PAS participant pursuant to OAR 461-190-0231 are unsuccessful; and (C) There is a determination that the PAS participant does not have good cause (see OAR 461-130-0327) for failure to meet one or more requirements of subsections (9)(a) through (9)(e) of this rule.