| (a) Purpose. This rule provides an opportunity for
qualified Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) youth on parole
to receive financial assistance from TJJD, subject to availability
of funds, to enroll in community colleges or technical schools in
Texas.
(b) Applicability. This rule applies only to financial
assistance provided by TJJD:
(1) from general revenue funds;
(2) for community college or technical school courses
other than dual-credit high school courses; and
(3) for youth who are on parole status at the time
of enrollment in the community college or technical school course(s).
(c) Eligibility Criteria.
(1) Academic Criteria. A youth must meet the following
academic criteria to be eligible to receive financial assistance from
TJJD:
(A) complete a GED or high school diploma;
(B) complete the state-required assessment test, unless
documented as exempt;
(C) document that he/she has applied for the Pell Grant
and document that those funds will be available for the requested
semester; and
(D) document that all other applicable financial assistance
has been applied for and document whether any additional assistance
has been approved.
(2) Behavioral Criteria. A youth must meet the following
behavioral criteria to be eligible to receive financial assistance
from TJJD:
(A) have no major rule violations within the previous
60 days, as confirmed in a Level I or II due process hearing; and
(B) adhere to requirements outlined in his/her individual
case plan, conditions of placement, and/or conditions of parole, as
applicable.
(3) Programmatic and Other Criteria. A youth must meet
the following programmatic and other criteria to be eligible to receive
financial assistance from TJJD:
(A) complete an independent living preparatory program,
if required by TJJD; and
(B) sign a financial assistance agreement with TJJD,
which may contain any additional requirements as deemed appropriate
by TJJD.
(d) Limitations on Financial Assistance.
(1) The provision of financial assistance is contingent
on the availability of funds. Not all youth who are eligible will
receive financial assistance.
(2) The youth must be under TJJD jurisdiction at the
beginning of each semester for which TJJD provides financial assistance.
(3) Financial assistance may be used only for the following
expenses:
(A) GED testing;
(B) tuition and fees;
(C) books;
(D) technical school expenses such as uniforms or tools;
and
(E) other education-related expenses, as approved on
a case-by-case basis by the division director over education services
or designee.
(4) TJJD is the payer of last resort. All other funds,
such as Pell Grant funds, must be applied to the cost of tuition,
fees, books, and required supplies before TJJD funds are used.
(5) TJJD funds may not be used to pay for late fees,
library fines, parking tickets, or similar expenses.
(e) Requirements for Receiving Continued Financial
Assistance.
(1) TJJD may discontinue financial assistance for any
of the following reasons:
(A) behavior that results in arrest, a TJJD administrative
due process hearing, or other disciplinary referral of any type;
(B) unacceptable academic performance in classes paid
with financial assistance, such as a grade point average below 2.0,
poor attendance, or unapproved schedule changes; and/or
(C) failure to provide TJJD with information regarding
the youth's attendance, participation, grades, and progress throughout
the term of the financial assistance.
(2) TJJD reviews the youth's eligibility for continued
financial assistance following receipt of the youth's grades.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §380.9149 adopted to be effective December 31, 1996, 21 TexReg 12184; transferred effective June 4, 2012, as published in the Texas Register June 22, 2012, 37 TexReg 4639 ; amended to be effective April 15, 2015, 40 TexReg 1976 |
