Cal-Learn Program Procedures

[EAS 42-766]

Initial Determination

Upon determining that an Assistance Unit (AU) contains a pregnant or parenting teen, the Eligibility Worker (EW) must determine if that teen has a high school diploma or its equivalent:

Reminder: If it is discovered at a later date that a pregnant or parenting teen under the age of 19 should have been enrolled in the Cal-Learn program, but was not, the EW must take immediate action to refer the individual to the Cal-Learn program.

Action By Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (PPMM)

After the pregnant or parenting teen is referred to the Cal-Learn program by the Cal-Learn CWES Worker or is discovered by PPMM staff, the Cal-Learn Case Manager must take the following steps:

• Send the Cal-Learn participant and caretaker relative payee (if different) a Cal-Learn Registration/Program Information/Orientation Appointment Notice (CL 1) to notify the teen:
  • that they are required to participate in the Cal-Learn program, and
  • of the time, date, and location of the orientation appointment.
• Conduct the orientation meeting, providing the teen parent and the caretaker relative payee with both a written and oral description of the Cal-Learn program.
• Send the caretaker relative payee a notice containing a Cal-Learn program description, the Cal-Learn Program Requirements (CL 2) and the Cal-Learn Notice of Report Card Submittal Schedule (CL 8):
• No later than 30 calendar days after the teen parent attends the orientation, or
• No later than five working days after the scheduled Orientation, if the teen parent and the caretaker relative payee fail to attend the scheduled orientation.

Note: Teen parents who do not attend orientation or otherwise do not cooperate continue to receive their CalWORKs grant.

• Develop a case plan with the teen parent, which includes but is not limited to:
  • Planned intervals of contacts and visits between the Cal-Learn Case Manager and the teen parent and the caretaker relative payee, as appropriate.
  • A description of the teen parent's school program.
  • A report card submittal schedule containing no more than four calendar dates per 12-month period when the teen parent must submit a report card to the Cal-Learn case manager.

Note: For purposes of bonuses, the requirement to submit a report card does not begin until the teen parent has been required to participate in the Cal-Learn program for 90 calendar days. The 90-day period begins on the first of the month following the date the teen parent was scheduled for orientation per the CL 1.

• Determine if the report cards are submitted as required.
• Review the report cards to determine if a bonus is appropriate.
• Provide the Cal-Learn CWES Worker with a completed Cal-Learn Communication (SCD 62) notifying them that a bonus must be issued.
• Provide the Cal-Learn CWES Worker with the appropriately completed forms necessary to pay for supportive services.

Good Cause

Any determination made by the Cal-Learn Case Manager may be subject to a good cause determination. The Cal-Learn Case Manager is responsible for contacting the teen, gathering the relevant verifications/facts and making a decision about whether good cause exists. If good cause does exist, the information must be provided to the Cal-Learn CWES Worker.

Cal-Learn Progress

Cal-Learn teens must be enrolled in the Cal-Learn program for at least 90 calendar days before they can earn a bonus. The 90 calendar days start on the first day of the month after the scheduled orientation meeting date, as per CL 1.

Teens who do not show up for orientation, refuse to go to school, or do not cooperate are still considered enrolled in the Cal-Learn program. 

For teens who participate in the Cal-Learn program, the report card (or an equivalent document) is used to determine progress.

Cal-Learn Bonuses

A Cal-Learn teen parent is eligible for up to four (4) $100 bonuses per year based upon whether the school is on a semester or a quarter schedule. If the teen’s grade point average is 2.0 (a “C” average) or better, the Cal-Learn client receives a $100 bonus. For school programs that do not issue grades, progress will be determined by school staff completing the Cal-Learn Program Progress Report (SCD 912) or by the teen passing at least one General Educational Development (GED) test component per quarter. The bonuses for satisfactory progress may not exceed a total of $400 per year. Bonuses are paid directly to the Cal-Learn client.

Note: If the teen parent was aided in their parent’s case but has since begun receiving aid on their own case, any retroactive bonuses must be issued in the Cal-Learn teen’s name in their current case.

The CAHSEE is no longer a graduation requirement. When a Cal-Learn teen submits documentation to their case manager showing graduation from high school, receives a GED or California High School Exit Exam (CHSPE) certificate, a $500 bonus is paid directly to the Cal-Learn client. Bonuses cannot be paid after the month in which the teen parent turns 19 years of age, unless the teen extended the Cal-Learn participation by volunteering for the program. A Cal-Learn teen cannot receive bonuses for both satisfactory school progress and graduation for the same report card period.

Note: A $100 bonus will not be issued in the same report card period when a teen receives a $500 graduation bonus. If the teen would qualify for both bonuses in the same period, they would only receive the $500 graduation bonus.

How to Issue a Graduation Bonus on a Closed Case

To issue a graduation bonus on a closed case, the designated Cal-Learn EC completes the following steps:

1. End dates the current Cal-Learn registration status of Closed or Ineligible.
2. Changes the Cal-Learn registration status to Post-Aid Services.
3. Adds activity CL High School with the current date.
4. Goes to CalWIN Display Student Summary window, Collect Student Detail window tab, to record the high school graduation information.
5. Authorizes and issues $500 graduation bonus using the Supportive Service type Ancillary, with subtype Retro Cal-Learn Grad Bonus via warrant, using the current date.
6. Enters case comments, “Cal-Learn Graduation Bonus issued per ACL 16-83”.
7. Scans a copy of the high school graduation certificate/diploma into IDM.
8. End date Post-Aid Services status, adds Closed status and changes case back to Cal-Learn closed caseload ID.

Cal-Learn Penalties

With the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 521, Cal-Learn participants are no longer subject to a noncompliance process or financial sanction as of January 1, 2024.

PPMM mails the Cal-Learn Informing Notice to Parent/Legal Guardian of Cal-Learn Participant (CL 4) to inform parent/legal guardian of the Cal-Learn teen’s participation problem and appointment date.

Receipt of Cal-Learn Communication (SCD 62)

The Cal-Learn Case Manager determines that the teen parent is eligible for a bonus and completes an SCD 62, which is sent to the Cal-Learn CWES Worker for action.

Upon receiving the SCD 62, the Cal-Learn CWES Worker must take appropriate action, within the appropriate time frames to issue the bonus or apply the penalty.