Division Name:	Partnerships/Workforce Development	FY97 $17,460,000 FY98 $17,460,000 FY99 $17,460,000 FY00 $18,660,000 FY01 $18,660,000 FY02 $18,660,000 FY 03 $18,956,500 FY 04 $21,456,500 $ Change $$2,500,000 % Change 13.2%
Legislative Reference:	2-3.66 and 201-1 of the School Code
Leadership Goal:	8
Program Goal:	By 2004, every student educated in an alternative setting will have access to a career development program that includes career planning, work based learning, transition planning, entrepreneurship and/or community service.

Purpose:	The Truant Alternative and Optional Education (TAOEP) Program helps schools establish projects that offer modified instructional and other services to prevent students from being truant and/or from dropping out of school. These projects offer prevention services such as counseling, mentoring, tutoring, child care and home visits. In addition, the program provides optional education programs for students beyond the age of compulsory attendance who have dropped out of school.
Population and Service Levels:	Since FY96, the number of truants increased by 6.4%; chronic truants increased by more than 11 %; and high school dropouts over three years by 1.6%, while declining in FY99 by 5°/a. During the same period, funding for TAOEP remained stagnant expert for a $1.2M increase In FY00, Consequently the program provided services for less than 490 of existing truants; 23% of identified chronic truants; and 11% of high school dropouts. Service levels are reflected below:    FY00 FY01 FY 02 FY03 (est.) Students Served    29,500 32,500 30,000 28,000 Programs    78 79 79 70
Reimbursement/ Distribution Method	Funds are awarded on a competitive, request for proposals basis on a three-year cycle. Local school districts, Regional Offices of Education, community colleges and laboratory schools are eligible to apply.
Performance Measures & Activities	By FY00, the current TAOEP evaluation program concluded that more than 88% of TAOEP students experienced successful outcomes including remaining in school, high school completion, improved attendance and improved academic achievement. Other performance measures are to: maintain overall positive outcomes at 88%; increase the number of programs providing career preparation and education programs in conjunction with ETC, CTE and/or workforce Investment (WIA); and align curriculum of existing instructional programs with State Learning Standards.