New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 12 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Chapter XII - Division Of Employment And Training
Part 900 - Youth Education, Employment And Training Program
Section 900.2 - Definitions

(a) Economically disadvantaged shall be defined as set forth in regulations promulgated by the State Education Department pursuant to sections 6451 and 6452 of the Education Law except that, in those local projects requiring a subsidy from funds received through the Federal Job Training Partnership Act of 1982 ( PL 97-300 ), the definition of economically disadvantaged as set forth in that act shall be used.

(b) Local projects means the specific plans or proposals for support and/or direct client services at the local level as specified in a contractual agreement between the department and employment and training providers.

(c) Department means the New York State Department of Labor.

(d) Eligible participants are economically disadvantaged youth, 14 to 21 years of age, deemed by the department to be at risk of dropping out of school or having barriers to employment.

(e) Eligible organizations means the following employment and training service providers: not-for-profit community-based organizations, boards of cooperative educational services. post- secondary educational agencies, grant recipients or administrative entities of the service delivery areas as defined by the Federal Job Training Partnership Act of 1982, joint apprentice committees, labor organizations and public and private employers.

(f) Program means youth education, employment and training program.

(g) AVE means the Adolescent Vocational Exploration Program, a department program that targets economically disadvantaged youth. AVE is an early intervention program which assists youth at risk of dropping out of school in defining and clarifying their career and educational goals, thereby enhancing their future employability.

(h) SESP means the Structured Educational Support Program, a department program that builds on the AVE program model, and expands services to economically disadvantaged youth on a year-round basis.

(i) STEP means the School to Employment Program, a department program that consists of two distinct programs, an in-school and an out-of school program. The STEP In-School Program targets youth at risk of dropping out of school by providing part-time jobs, counseling and motivation for school attendance and performance while alleviating some financial burdens. The youth's job is tied to a commitment to stay in school. The STEP Out-of-School Program is designed to provide economically disadvantaged youth with general equivalency diploma preparation and work attitude and skills development. This program establishes an individually developed work-education agreement between the participant and the program.

(j) YWSP means the Youth Work Skills Program, a department program designed to serve out of school youth who are economically disadvantaged and are reading at or below the fifth grade level.