Cal-Learn Program

Cal-Learn is a mandatory program in California for those who:

  • are under 19 years of age,
  • are Cal-WORKS recipients of cash assistance,
  • are pregnant or reside with his/her child in the same assistance unit,
  • and who have not obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent.

An otherwise eligible teen who is 19 years of age may continue to participate in the Cal-Learn Program on a voluntary basis until he or she earns a high school diploma or its equivalent or turns 20 years old.

 

Each pregnant teen or custodial teen parent is required to:

  • Attend full-time school programs that will lead to a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • Participate in the Cal-Learn Program until a high school diploma or its equivalent is earned, or the end of the month in which the teen parent turns age 19 (age 20 for voluntary participants).
  • Assist in the development of the case plan, including a report card submittal schedule.
  • Submit report cards to the case manager within 10 working days from the date the report card is issued.
  • Comply with a home visit by the case manager not less than every third month as established in the case plan.
  • Make personal contact with their case manager monthly.

SCHOOL REVIEWS (Occur four times per year)

BONUS of $100 is granted when the teen: 

  • has satisfactory progress in his/her school program.

BONUS of $500 is paid directly to the participating teen when: 

  • A high school diploma or its equivalent is obtained:
  1. prior to or within the month he/she turns 19 years old, or
  2. prior to or within the month he/she turns 20 years old for a voluntary 19-year-old participant.

(Note: In the period when a $500 Bonus is granted teen is not eligible for the $100 bonus.)

SANCTION of $100 is applied when the teen:

  • is not attending school full-time. 
  • fails to turn in a progress report as scheduled.
  • makes less than adequate progress.

(Teen parents who do not attend orientation, or otherwise do not cooperate will be subject to sanctions if they do not submit their report cards.)

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES (Subject to Program Funding)

Services teen parents need to enable them to attend their school programs regularly and the program will provide payment for include approved:

  • Ancillary expenses that include but are not limited to, school books, GED testing costs, laboratory fees, and supplies required for a teen parent to attend and/or graduate from high school or its equivalent.
  • Child care.
  • Transportation.

CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

 Case management services are provided to each teen parent to assist them to obtain:

  • The educational services necessary to earn a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Health and social services, including but not limited to those designed to:
  1. Reduce the number of deaths of infants and pregnant women.
  2. Reduce the number of low birth weight infants.
  3. Aid teen parents in the development of parenting skills.
  4. Provide assistance in establishing an effective relationship between the teen parent, the non-custodial parent and the child as appropriate.
  5. Assess the suitability of the teen parent's living situation including, but not limited to, the physical and emotional health and safety of the teen parent and child.