OAR 715-100-0004
Community Stewardship Corps Vouchers
(1)
The following definitions apply to terms used in this rule:(a) Program – Recipient of an Oregon Youth Corps Community Stewardship Corps Grant.
(b)
Successful Completion – Completion of a program in a manner that qualifies a participant for a voucher. The criteria for successful completion is defined by each program as required in section 3 of this rule.(c)
Voucher – Award issued to a program participant upon successful completion of such participant’s commitment to a program.(2)
In order to be eligible for a voucher, and in addition to meeting criteria for successful completion, a participant must be 16 years of age or older at the time of completion.(3)
Programs shall develop a definition for successful completion. Criteria for successful completion may include participant attendance, grades, behavior, or other criteria determined by the program. Definitions must be approved by the agency during the grant application process.(4)
Programs shall determine whether a participant has met the criteria for successful completion. Programs shall then record participant eligibility for a voucher by entering participants’ names in the OYC reporting portal with the voucher amount earned according to the calculation in subsection a-c of this section. If a participant has not met the successful completion criteria, the program shall record the reason(s) within the portal.(a)
The maximum voucher award is $1,500 per participant.(b)
Voucher value shall accrue at the rate of $125 per month of student participation in a program.(c)
Voucher value shall only accrue during the academic year, and no voucher may accrue greater than 9 months of value during any calendar year.(5)
Vouchers may only be used to pay for tuition, books, or other items or services, as determined by the agency that enhance and support education and employment.(6)
Vouchers to students participating in programs subject to grant agreements executed and funded prior to January 1, 2020 may only be used at any career school or post-secondary educational institution that is qualified to receive assistance through the Office of Student Access and Completion for payments toward tuition, fee, and book costs.(7)
The agency shall issue vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible participants based on the date a program submits a request for voucher issuance.(8)
The Commission may suspend, or authorize programs to suspend, the awarding of vouchers to eligible participants, notwithstanding sections 4 and 7 of this rule, if the Commission determines there are insufficient resources available to operate programs and issue vouchers to students.(9)
Upon approval of voucher award amounts, the agency shall notify students of such amounts and process for redemption.
Source:
Rule 715-100-0004 — Community Stewardship Corps Vouchers, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=715-100-0004.