AEFLA Eligibility Policy
Students must be at least seventeen years of age at the time they enroll in an AEFLA-funded program. AEFLA-funded programs may serve persons under the age of seventeen only if certain statutory exceptions to the compulsory education law apply or if conditions under certain other state statutes are applicable.
- See also "Who is eligible to participate in Adult Education and Family Literacy programs?" on the Adult Education Q & A Web page.
- Download a copy of AEFLA Program Policy: Eligibility of
16-Year-Olds (February 1, 2008)
- Download a copy of
Sixteen-Year-Olds Side-by-Side:
Conditions Allowing GED Age Waiver and AEFLA Eligibility
16-Year-Olds Q & A
Q:
Even if a student meets the first condition (Applicant requires a GED diploma for an educational or vocational program),
yet hasn't been "released" from school, then how can we legally take him/her? I mean - lots of students just decide to
quit going to school and want to enroll in the GED program.
However, I can't take them unless they have been dismissed (expelled, suspended, etc.) from the High School, can I?
A:
The student cannot be enrolled in school and be eligible for AEFLA, so you are correct,
they are not fundable via AEFLA unless they are NOT enrolled.
Q:
And, what about the 16 year old student who moves to town?
LEGALLY, they are supposed to enroll here in High School. But if they don't, can we take them?
They haven't been expelled or suspended or on parole/probation -- they just don't want to go to high school
here.
A:
However, they are required to be enrolled in school under state law (even though they have not done so),
so they are not fundable.
Q:
I'm assuming we can now take 16 year-old home schoolers? What if a student drops out
of high school to enter "home-schooling", then comes directly to us - bypassing the rules.
A:
We have submitted a request to the State Attorney General’s
office for an opinion on eligibility of 16-year-old home-schooled students.
Q:
Are we allowed to let 16-year-old students who meet any of
these conditions into our GED programs to prepare for the exam? As of this year, we only admit 17-year olds.
A:
Yes, provided they meet one of the conditions.
Q:
Can we include the 16 year olds that enrolled after the October PPR count as part
of our AEFLA report? In the past we included
all 16-20 year olds not on the PPR count in the AEFLA report so I assume we can do the same, but I wanted you to confirm this.
A:
You may count them if they meet one of the conditions; otherwise, they are required to be in school under
State law and are hence not eligible for AEFLA funding.
Q:
Does this mean that if a 16 year
old meets one of the criteria that AEFLA funds would pay for us to offer instruction?
A:
Yes, given that one of the conditions applies.
Program Requirements
Contact: Debra Fawcett, 303.866.6914;
fawcett_d@cde.state.co.us