Policy Chapters and Sections

Eligibility Requirements for In-School Youth (ISY)

Chapter: 5 Section: 4.2
Effective Date: 6/30/2016
Expiration Date: Continuing
Published Date: 5/11/2023 4:39:45 PM
Status: Current
Version: 2

Tags: Eligibility

  1. The term in-school youth means an individual who is:
    1. Attending school (as defined by state law);
    2. Not younger than fourteen (14) (unless an individual with a disability attending school under State law) or older than twenty-one (21);
      1. A youth attending postsecondary education who is twenty-two (22) at the time of eligibility determination would not be eligible for the WIOA youth program because they are in school and over the age of twenty-one (21). That individual could be served through the WIOA adult program.
      2. There is one exception to age eligibility for youth attending school. Youth with disabilities who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) may be enrolled as ISY after the age of twenty-one (21) since Illinois law allows youth with disabilities to be served by the K-12 public school system until the age of twenty-two (22). Such youth may only be enrolled as ISY up to the age of twenty-two (22) to receive secondary education services.
    3. A low-income individual, including an individual that receives or is eligible to receive a free or reduced-price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (Sec. 3(36)(A)(iv)) or who lives in a high-poverty area; and
    4. One or more of the following:
      1. Basic skills deficient.
      2. An English language learner.
      3. An offender.
      4. A homeless individual, a homeless child or youth, a runaway, in foster care or has aged out of the foster care system, a child eligible for assistance under section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 USC 677), or in an out-of-home placement.
      5. Pregnant or parenting.
      6. A youth who is an individual with a disability.
      7. An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.
        1. This criterion can only be used when no other youth barriers exist.
        2. Local Workforce Innovation Boards (LWIBs) must establish a local policy using this criterion.
        3. LWIBs must ensure that less than five (5) percent of their ISY per program year utilize and report this barrier as the sole reason for eligibility determination.