Cal-Learn Program Voluntary Participants

Pregnant or parenting teens may continue to participate in the Cal-Learn program from age 19, up to age 20 on a voluntary basis, if all of the following requirements are met:

• Are eligible and receiving CalWORKs
• Participated in the Cal-Learn program prior to becoming 19 years of age
• Have not obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Are attending a school program on a full-time basis which leads to a high school diploma or its equivalent by age 20
• Reside with their child(ren) in the same AU.

If the 19-year-old teen DOES NOT meet all of the above requirements, that teen must be registered for CWES if no other exemptions apply.

The Cal-Learn Case Manager will determine if the appropriate conditions are met and will notify the Cal-Learn CWES Worker if the teen is a current Cal-Learn participant. A 19-year-old teen, who previously participated in Cal-Learn, but is not currently receiving Cal-Learn, can volunteer for Cal-Learn participation as well, if otherwise eligible.

Example: At 15 years of age, Mary was a Cal-Learn participant. At 17 years of age, she went off cash aid and was no longer eligible to participate in Cal-Learn. At 19 years of age, Mary is back on cash aid, has not received a high school diploma or equivalent and wants to voluntarily participate in Cal-Learn. Mary is eligible to voluntarily participate in Cal-Learn.

Note: A 19-year-old voluntary Cal-Learn participant is subject to the same bonus and penalty requirements as other teen parents enrolled in the Cal-Learn program.

19-Year-Old Volunteer Continued Participation

Once a 19-year-old volunteers to participate in the Cal-Learn program, he/she must remain in the program until he/she receives a high school diploma or the equivalent or turns 20 years of age.

Example: A 19-year-old has volunteered to participate in Cal-Learn. The teen parent fails to provide her report card in a timely manner. The Cal-Learn Case Manager determines that there was no good cause and notifies CWES to apply the appropriate penalty. The 19-year-old cannot “unvolunteer” herself at that time; the penalty will apply until she ages out of the program at age 20.