1. The sponsors will be eligible to apply for apprenticeship funds based on the number of contact hours of related instruction: 160 hours X authorized number of instructors X established rate per hour.

2. The SAO will send a letter along with appropriate forms (Application Packet) following the regularly scheduled AACSC meeting of each year requesting preliminary contact hours and other information to LEAs/program sponsors.

3. No later than the established deadline date, the LEA/sponsor will send their Annual Application Forms to the SAO for the contract period.

4. NOTE: The application with original signatures must be submitted to the SAO. Hand-delivered applications will be accepted between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The date stamp of the Apprenticeship Office will be used to establish the time of receipt.

5. The SAO in consultation with the AACSC will notify LEA's/sponsors of the contact hour rate based on these estimates.

Programs will be reimbursed at the current contact hour rate in effect at the time the programs are approved for funding by the AACSC. (The current contact hour rate will never exceed a maximum contact hour rate established by the AACSC. Depending on the number of programs and apprentices, the current contact hour rate of funding may be less than the maximum rate established. The AACSC in consultation with the SAO, Arkansas Department of Commerce, Office of Skills Development shall establish the current contact hour rate.)

NOTE: No more than 15% of the state funds may be used by the program sponsor for administrative purposes such as supervisory and/or secretarial salaries, travel, office supplies, etc.

6. The AACSC in coordination with the SAO will review/approve/disapprove all funding requests that are associated with each Class Organization Report (i.e. each Apprenticeship Training Program).

7. Each LEA/sponsor must submit the Attendance/Contract Hour Report (Form WE-APP-237) and the Reimbursement Request form (Form WE-App-236) showing actual student attendance

8. NOTE: The LEA may elect to charge and receive an administrative fee to cover the costs of processing the records of the apprentice and reimbursement requests of the program sponsor. Pursuant to Act 684 of 1989, a public school district and a state postsecondary or higher education institution may charge an administration fee, not to exceed $25per apprentice per school year.