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ABILITY TO BENEFIT AND FINANCIAL AID:
ADVICE FOR CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAMS
AND ADULT EDUCATION
Josh Beneze
Associate Director for Adult Education
& Workforce
Illinois Community College Board
Kim Wagner
Managing Director
Student Financial Services
Elgin Community College
Forum for Excellence
September 28, 2016
SESSION OBJECTIVES
Overview of Ability to Benefit (ATB)
What is it?
How does it work?
Qualifying Exams
Testimonial / Description from a College F.A. Administrator
Other Important Financial Aid Information
Changes to the FAFSA for 2017-2018 Academic Year
WHAT IS ABILITY TO BENEFIT (ATB)?
“Ability to Benefit” refers to a federal program administered by
the U.S. Department of Education that enables an individual
without a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent to
qualify for Title IV, HEA (Higher Education Act) funds.
“Title IV, HEA funds” refers to all forms of federal student aid
(FSA) authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
These include, but are not limited to, Pell grant, federal work
study, and federal student loans.
PELL GRANT
Students that are eligible for Title IV aid
under the ability-to-benefit regulations
are potentially eligible to receive the
entire Pell entitlement.
(changed in late 2015)
Previously, students under ATB were granted access only to a
limited Pell award, but the restrictions have been lifted.
HOW CAN A STUDENT ACCESS ATB?
In order to “unlock” access to FSA, a student must be
determined eligible.
Eligibility requires that a student must:
Not have a high school diploma or equivalent;
Be enrolled in an eligible career pathway program; and
Successfully pass or complete one of the ATB alternatives.
Students must also file a FAFSA (free application for federal
student aid).
FAFSA COMPLETION
FINANCIAL AID PROCESSING
Federal Student Financial Aid – “Title IV funds” – students
qualify if they have:
A high school diploma
The recognized equivalent of a high school diploma
Completed homeschooling at the secondary level as defined by the
state law
Completed homeschooling if the state law does not require a
homeschooled student to receive a credential for their education; or
Completed one of the ability-to-benefit alternatives, currently enrolled in
an eligible career pathway program or first enrolled in an eligible
postsecondary program prior to July 1, 2012.
Source: Federal Student Aid Handbook, Volume 1, Chapter 1
GRANDFATHERED STUDENTS
Allows a student without a high school diploma or its recognized
equivalent and who was enrolled in an eligible program within
a Title IV institution prior to July 1, 2012 to be eligible for Title IV
aid under the previous ability-to-benefit alternatives.
WHAT IS AN ELIGIBLE CAREER PATHWAY
PROGRAM?
An “eligible career pathway program” means a program that
combines rigorous and high-quality education, training, and
other services that –
1. Align with the skill needs of industries in the economy
of the State or regional economy involved;
2. Prepares an individual to be successful in any of a full
range of secondary or postsecondary education
options, including apprenticeships registered under
the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the
“National Apprenticeship Act”; 50 Stat. 664, chapter
663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.);
WHAT IS AN ELIGIBLE CAREER PATHWAY
PROGRAM?
3. Includes counseling to support an individual in
achieving the individual’s education and career
goals;
4. Includes, as appropriate, education offered
concurrently with and in the same context as
workforce preparation activities and training for a
specific occupation or occupational cluster;
WHAT IS AN ELIGIBLE CAREER PATHWAY
PROGRAM?
5. Organizes education, training, and other services to
meet the particular needs of an individual in a
manner that accelerates the educational and
career advancement of the individual to the extent
practicable;
6. Enables an individual to attain a high school diploma
or its recognized equivalent, and at least one
recognized postsecondary credential; and
7. Helps an individual enter or advance within a
specific occupation or occupational cluster.
WHO DETERMINES WHETHER A PROGRAM IS AN
ELIGIBLE CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM?
“Each institution must make its own determination of
whether a program is an eligible career pathway
program based on the statutory definition in section
484(d)(2) of the HEA, and as described in Dear
Colleague Letter GED-16-09.”
- Attachment to GEN-16-09
Institutions must document the basis for such a
determination.
WHAT DOCUMENTATION MUST BE
MAINTAINED?
Documentation that the program meets the
requirements of an eligible career pathway program.
- Including documentation that the program includes
workforce preparation activities and training for a
specific occupation or occupational cluster and is
aligned with the skill needs of the State or regional
economy.
WHAT DOCUMENTATION MUST BE MAINTAINED
(CONT.)?
For each student, the following documentation must
also be maintained:
- Evidence that the student successfully completed one
of the ATB alternatives; and
- That the student was enrolled in both the Title IV-
eligible postsecondary program component and the
component that enables an individual to attain a high
school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
ELIGIBLE CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAM
The Financial Aid office is required to maintain records of
adherence to the “eligible career pathway program” for an
ATB student.
Eligible career pathway programs must meet the Title IV
eligible program standards
Any credit hours earned by an ATB student towards
attaining a high school diploma or equivalent may not be
used in calculating financial aid eligibility.
Collaboration between the Adult Education and Financial
Aid departments are essential.
WHAT ARE THE ABILITY TO BENEFIT (ATB)
ALTERNATIVES?
Passing an independently administered, Department of
Education approved ability-to-benefit test; or
Completed at least six credit hours that are applicable
toward a degree or certificate offered by the
postsecondary institution; or
Completed a state process approved by the Secretary
of Education.
List of currently approved ability-to-benefit tests available in Volume
1, Chapter 1 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook:
(https://www.ifap.ed.gov/ifap/byAwardYear.jsp?type=fsahandboo
k&awardyear=2016-2017 )
WHAT EXAMS ARE APPROVED?
There are four new tests and two continuing tests that are
approved for use in determining eligibility for Title IV, HEA:
New Tests:
Wonderlic Basic Skills Test
(WBST)
Online and Paper-based
Spanish Wonderlic Basic
Skills Test (Spanish WBST)
Online and Paper-based
Continued Tests:
Combined English
Language Skills Assessment (CELSA)
ACCUPLACER
WHAT EXAMS ARE APPROVED?
Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST)
Online and Paper-based
Verbal Forms VS-1 and VS-2
Passing Score: Verbal 200
Quantitative Forms QS-1 and QS-2
Passing Score: Quantitative 210
Spanish Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (Spanish WBST)
Online and Paper-based
Verbal Forms VS-1 and VS-2
Passing Score: Verbal 200
Quantitative Forms QS-1 and QS-2
Passing Score: Quantitative 200
WHAT EXAMS ARE APPROVED?
Combined English Language Skills Assessment (CELSA)
Forms 1 and 2
Passing Scores:
CELSA Form 1: 97
CELSA Form 2: 97
ACCUPLACER
Reading Comprehension, Sentence Skills, and Arithmetic
Passing Scores:
Reading Comprehension: 55
Sentence Skills: 60
Arithmetic: 34
WHAT EXAMS ARE NOT APPROVED?
Six previously approved tests are no longer approved for use in
determining eligibility for Title IV, HEA:
No Longer Approved:
ACT Career Programs
Assessment test (CPAt)
ACT WorkKeys
The College Board DTLS and
DTMS
ASSET: Basic Skills Test
COMPASS
COMPASS/ESL
ADDITIONAL POINTS
Remedial or developmental coursework does NOT count
toward the six (6) credit hours alternative.
Students need not be enrolled in an AE program for the
entire duration of the eligible career pathway program.
Once the student obtains a high school diploma or equivalency
certification, the student becomes Title IV aid-eligible without the need
of ATB.
NOTE: Such a completion, if the student continues on in the career pathway program, or a non-career pathway postsecondary program, will count as a successful attainment of HSE and transition into postsecondary education/training.
ADDITIONAL POINTS
A non-community college AE program may partner with an
eligible career pathway program at a Title IV-eligible
institution for students to access ATB.
This is perfect for an ICAPS partnership between a CBO/ROE/LEA and a
community college CTE program.
BEST PRACTICES
Collaboration is key! – Adult Education office and Financial
Aid
Clearly define what is an eligible career pathway program
at your institution
Understand how a student will qualify at your institution
under the ATB alternatives (e.g. administration of the
Accuplacer test)
Support the student during the process – establish clear
guidance on the multi-step process
IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID UPDATE
FAFSA CHANGES
Two major changes to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid) are taking effect for the 2017-2018 school year.
The FAFSA will be available earlier (October 1 of the
previous year instead of January 1 of the upcoming school
year).
The FAFSA will collect income information from an earlier tax
year.
FAFSA CHANGES
When a Student is Attending
College (School Year)
When a Student Can Submit a
FAFSA
Which Year’s
Income
Information is
Required
July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016 January 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016 2014
July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 January 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 2015
July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018 October 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018 2015
July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019 October 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019 2016
QUESTIONS?
FURTHER QUESTIONS?
CONTACT:
Josh Beneze
Associate Director
Adult Education and Workforce
Illinois Community College Board
28
Kim Wagner
Managing Director
Student Financial Services
Elgin Community College