Revision 21-1; Effective January 1, 2021

TANF

If a child or teen parent does not meet school attendance requirements, impose a school attendance penalty and apply a full-family sanction.

If the person does not cooperate with school attendance requirements at ...	then ...
application (before certification but after signing the Personal Responsibility Agreement),	refer to A-2144, Imposing a Penalty.
complete review or incomplete review,	refer to A-2144.
reapplication,	if the person has an open penalty, follow the procedures in A-2151, Open Penalty at Reapplication in Pay for Performance. if the person does not have an open penalty, follow the procedures in A-2131.2.1, Verifying Prior Cooperation Status at TANF Reapplication.

TP 08 and TA 31

Deny TP 08 or TA 31 if the only dependent child(ren) who makes the person eligible for TP 08 or TA 31 is age 18 and:

• has graduated;
• is expected to graduate after the month of their 19 birthday. Note: A child who will not graduate until after the month of their 19th birthday is not considered a dependent child after the month of their 18th birthday;
• is not attending high school, technical school, vocational school, home school, or trade school full time; or
• school attendance is not verified by the due date.

Related Policy

Form TF0001 Required (Adequate Notice), A-2344.1

 

A—1631 Good Cause for Noncooperating with School Attendance

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

TANF, TP 08 and TA 31

Good cause for not cooperating with the school attendance requirement must be explored at:

• application,
• each complete review, and
• the individual's request.

Good cause exists if:

• the teen parent has a child under age 12 weeks; or
• no one in the home is willing and able to care for the child, and free child care is not available through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) or the school district. The local workforce board should provide free child care paid by TWC.

The individual's statement about a household member's inability to provide care is acceptable. Good cause is allowed only if TWC and the local school district provide verification that they will not provide free child care.

 

A—1632 Curing the School Attendance Penalty

Revision 15-4; Effective October 1, 2015

TANF

After a penalty is imposed, the child or teen parent can cure the penalty:

• by attending school with no unexcused absences for the next 30 days;
• by claiming good cause; or
• during the summer months by:
  • being promoted,
  • attending summer school, or
  • graduating.

The individual is responsible for reporting when the child or teen parent has cured the penalty or has good cause.

Note: See A-2151, Open Penalty at Reapplication in Pay for Performance, when curing an open school attendance noncooperation for a reapplication under pay for performance.