Section 703.181 - TAFDC Teen Parent School Attendance[Note: 106 CMR 703.181 was formerly found at 106 CMR 203.610]
(A)Requirements. (1) A teen parent must: (a) be a high school graduate;(b) be a graduate of a High School Equivalency Testing (HiSET) program;(c) be a full-time student not beyond high school (which may include an approved alternative education program); or(d) be a full-time student in a HiSET program and participate in an approved training or employment-related activity for 20 hours per week, or, if living in a teen structured living program, meeting those requirements (see106 CMR 703.183(A)(3)) .(2) A teen parent described in 106 CMR 703.181(A)(1)(c) or (d) must meet the Employment Services Program requirements found at 106 CMR 707.110: Completion of an Employment Development Plan (EDP) and 707.140: Educational Component.(3) A teen parent shall be provided with child care by a referral from the Department. If child care is not available, the teen parent will be exempt from 106 CMR 703.181(A)(1)(c) and (d).(4) Failure by a teen parent to meet the school attendance requirements will result in a sanction for the teen parent and his or her dependent child unless good cause exists in accordance with 106 CMR 701.380: Good Cause Criteria. (a) For the first failure the grant will be reduced by an amount equal to the teen parent's portion of the grant.(b) If the failure continues beyond 30 days, as well as for subsequent failures, the teen parent and his or her dependent child will be ineligible for a TAFDC grant. 1. If the teen parent and his or her dependent child is sanctioned, the child's other parent, living with the teen parent and child, may constitute an assistance unit of one, if otherwise eligible.2. If a teen parent and his or her dependent child is sanctioned, the mother of the teen parent, living with the teen parent and his or her dependent child, may constitute an assistance unit of one, if otherwise eligible.(5) A teen parent who is ineligible in accordance with 106 CMR 703.181(A)(4) may have his or her TAFDC reopened (see106 CMR 707.205: Restoration of TAFDC Benefits and ESP Participation).(6) A teen parent is not subject to these requirements for three months following the birth of his or her child.(B)Verifications.(1) Verification of school attendance and frequency shall be by a method specified by the Department.(2) Verification of high school graduation shall be by a copy of a high school graduation diploma or a written statement from the appropriate high school authority giving the date of graduation.(3) Verification of graduation from a HiSET program shall be by a copy of the HiSET certificate or a written statement on letterhead from the educational provider stating the HiSET requirements have been met and when the certificate will be issued.(4) Verification of full-time participation in a HiSET program shall be by a written statement from the educational provider stating that the program will lead to a high school diploma or equivalency and verifying the teen parent's full-time attendance.(5) Verification of participation in an approved training or employment-related activity shall be by a method specified by the Department.Adopted by Mass Register Issue 1360, eff. 3/9/2018.