(a) To be eligible to participate in the Job Corps, an individual must be:

(1) At least 16 and not more than 24 years of age at the time of enrollment, except that:

(i) The Job Corps Director may waive the maximum age limitation described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and the requirement in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section for an individual with a disability if he or she is otherwise eligible according to the requirements listed in this section and § 686.410; and

(ii) Not more than 20 percent of individuals enrolled nationwide may be individuals who are aged 22 to 24 years old;

(2) A low-income individual;

(3) An individual who is facing one or more of the following barriers to education and employment:

(i) Is basic skills deficient, as defined in WIOA sec. 3;

(ii) Is a school dropout;

(iii) Is homeless as defined in sec. 41403(6) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043e-2(6)); is a homeless child or youth, as defined in sec. 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)); or is a runaway, an individual in foster care; or an individual who was in foster care and has aged out of the foster care system.

(iv) Is a parent; or

(v) Requires additional education, career technical training, or workforce preparation skills in order to obtain and retain employment that leads to economic self-sufficiency; and

(4) Meets the requirements of § 686.420, if applicable.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2) of this section, a veteran is eligible to become an enrollee if the individual:

(1) Meets the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) and (3) of this section; and

(2) Does not meet the requirement of paragraph (a)(2) of this section because the military income earned by the individual within the 6-month period prior to the individual's application for Job Corps prevents the individual from meeting that requirement.

Yes, in accordance with procedures issued by the Secretary, an eligible applicant may be selected for enrollment only if:

(a) A determination is made, based on information relating to the background, needs, and interests of the applicant, that the applicant's educational and career and technical needs can best be met through the Job Corps program;

(b) A determination is made that there is a reasonable expectation the applicant can participate successfully in group situations and activities, and is not likely to engage in actions that would potentially:

(1) Prevent other students from receiving the benefit of the program;

(2) Be incompatible with the maintenance of sound discipline; or

(3) Impede satisfactory relationships between the center to which the student is assigned and surrounding local communities;

(c) The applicant is made aware of the center's rules, what the consequences are for failure to observe the rules, and agrees to comply with such rules, as described in procedures issued by the Secretary;

(d) The applicant has not been convicted of a felony consisting of murder, child abuse, or a crime involving rape or sexual assault. Other than these felony convictions, no one will be denied enrollment in Job Corps solely on the basis of contact with the criminal justice system. All applicants must submit to a background check conducted according to procedures established by the Secretary and in accordance with applicable State and local laws. If the background check finds that the applicant is on probation, parole, under a suspended sentence, or under the supervision of any agency as a result of court action or institutionalization, the court or appropriate supervising agency may certify in writing that it will approve of the applicant's participation in Job Corps, and provide full release from its supervision, and that the applicant's participation and release does not violate applicable laws and regulations; and

(e) Suitable arrangements are made for the care of any dependent children for the proposed period of enrollment.

(a) Yes, each male applicant 18 years of age or older must present evidence that he has complied with sec. 3 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.) if required; and

(b) When a male student turns 18 years of age, he must submit evidence to the center that he has complied with the requirements of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.).

The Secretary makes arrangements with outreach and admissions providers to perform Job Corps recruitment, screening and admissions functions according to standards and procedures issued by the Secretary. Entities eligible to receive funds to provide outreach and admissions services are identified in § 686.300.

(a) Outreach and admissions agencies are responsible for:

(1) Developing outreach and referral sources;

(2) Actively seeking out potential applicants;

(3) Conducting personal interviews with all applicants to identify their needs and eligibility status; and

(4) Identifying youth who are interested and likely Job Corps participants.

(b) Outreach and admissions providers are responsible for completing all Job Corps application forms and determining whether applicants meet the eligibility and selection criteria for participation in Job Corps as provided in §§ 686.400 and 686.410.

(c) The Secretary may decide that determinations with regard to one or more of the eligibility criteria will be made by the National Director or his or her designee.

(a) Each applicant who meets the application and selection requirements of §§ 686.400 and 686.410 is assigned to a center based on an assignment plan developed by the Secretary in consultation with the operators of Job Corps centers. The assignment plan identifies a target for the maximum percentage of students at each center who come from the State or region nearest the center, and the regions surrounding the center. The assignment plan is based on an analysis of the following non-exclusive list of factors that will be analyzed in consultation with center operators:

(1) The number of eligible individuals in the State and region where the center is located and the regions surrounding where the center is located;

(2) The demand for enrollment in Job Corps in the State and region where the center is located and in surrounding regions;

(3) The size and enrollment level of the center, including the education, training, and supportive services provided through the center; and

(4) The performance of the Job Corps center relating to the expected levels of performance for indicators described in WIOA sec. 159(c)(1), and whether any actions have been taken with respect to the center under secs. 159(f)(2) and 159(f)(3) of WIOA.

(b) Eligible applicants are assigned to the center that offers the type of career technical training selected by the individual, and among the centers that offer such career technical training, is closest to the home of the individual. The Secretary may waive this requirement if:

(1) The enrollee would be unduly delayed in participating in the Job Corps program because the closest center is operating at full capacity; or

(2) The parent or guardian of the enrollee requests assignment of the enrollee to another Job Corps center due to circumstances in the community that would impair prospects for successful completion by the enrollee.

(c) If a parent or guardian objects to the assignment of a student under the age of 18 to a center other than the center closest to home that offers the desired career technical training, the Secretary must not make such an assignment.

No more than 20 percent of students enrolled in Job Corps nationwide may be nonresidential students.

(a) A person who is determined to be ineligible to participate in Job Corps under § 686.400 or a person who is not selected for enrollment under § 686.410 may appeal the determination to the outreach and admissions agency within 60 days of the determination. The appeal will be resolved according to the procedures in §§ 686.960 and 686.965. If the appeal is denied by the outreach/admissions contractor or the center, the person may appeal the decision in writing to the Regional Director within 60 days of the date of the denial. The Regional Director will decide within 60 days whether to reverse or approve the appealed decision. The decision by the Regional Director is the Department's final decision.

(b) If an applicant believes that he or she has been determined ineligible or not selected for enrollment based upon a factor prohibited by sec. 188 of WIOA, the individual may proceed under the applicable Department nondiscrimination regulations implementing WIOA sec. 188 at 29 CFR part 38.

(c) An applicant who is determined to be ineligible or a person who is denied enrollment must be referred to the appropriate one-stop center or other local service provider.

(a) To be considered enrolled as a Job Corps student, an applicant selected for enrollment must physically arrive at the assigned Job Corps center on the appointed date. However, applicants selected for enrollment who arrive at their assigned centers by government furnished transportation are considered to be enrolled on their dates of departure by such transportation.

(b) Center operators must document the enrollment of new students according to procedures issued by the Secretary.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a student may remain enrolled in Job Corps for no more than 2 years.

(b)(1) An extension of a student's enrollment may be authorized in special cases according to procedures issued by the Secretary;

(2) A student's enrollment in an advanced career training program may be extended in order to complete the program for a period not to exceed 1 year;

(3) An extension of a student's enrollment may be authorized in the case of a student with a disability who would reasonably be expected to meet the standards for a Job Corps graduate if allowed to participate in the Job Corps for not more than 1 additional year; and

(4) An enrollment extension may be granted to a student who participates in national service, as authorized by a Civilian Conservation Center, for the amount of time equal to the period of national service.