WIOA Section 129(a)(1) establishes the eligibility criteria that an individual must meet to
participate in the WIOA youth program. Every individual receiving services under the
WIOA youth program must meet either the In-School Youth or as an Out-of-School Youth
eligibility criteria and enroll in the program. All youth must be a United States citizen or
have the right to work in the U.S. and males must comply with selective service registration
requirements.
Separate eligibility criteria for ISY and OSY are outlined below.
In School Youth (ISY)
An individual who meets the ISY eligibility criteria must:
1. Be attending school, including secondary or postsecondary school and,
2. Be between the ages of 14 and 21 at the time of enrollment and,
3. Low-income, and
4. Meet one or more of the following conditions:
Basic skills deficient.
An English language learner.
An offender.
A homeless individual.
A runaway.
An individual 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
or in an out-of-home placement.
An individual who is pregnant or parenting.
A youth who is an individual with a disability.
An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational
program or to secure or hold employment. Note: Up to five percent of youth
in a given program year (ISY and OSY, who ordinarily would be required to
meet the low-income criteria for eligibility purposes, are allowed a low-income exemption based on this barrier).
Out-of-School Youth (OSY)
An individual who meets the OSY eligibility criteria must:
1. Not be attending school and,
2. Be between the ages of 16 to 24 at the time of enrollment, and
3. Meet one or more of the following conditions:
A school dropout.
A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not
attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar
quarter.
A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who
is a low-income individual and is—
Basic skills deficient or
An English language learner.
An offender.
A homeless individual.
A runaway.
In foster care or has aged out of the foster care system.
Eligible for assistance under section 477 of the Social Security Act
In an out-of-home placement.
Pregnant or parenting.
Have a documented disability.
A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or
complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment. Note: Up
to five percent of youth in a given program year (ISY and OSY), who
ordinarily would be required to meet the low-income criteria for eligibility
purposes, are allowed a low-income exemption based on this barrier.