GAIN FAQs Cal-LEARN

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Cal-Learn

Orientation
9/30/09	1.	Question: If a Cal-Learn teen does not attend orientation, does the Case Manager have to complete a case plan?
		Answer: The Case Manager must complete a case plan for every Cal-Learn participant, whether the teen attends orientation or not. Cal-Learn regulations state that when a teen parent fails to take part in developing the case plan, the Case Manager must set up a report card schedule containing four dates within the 12-month period. If there is no contact with the teen and no proof of school enrollment/attendance, the Case Manager must impose a sanction for each of the four report card dates listed in the case plan.
Participation
9/30/09	2.	Question: Can a participant participate in an Independent Study Program instead of attending his/her local high school everyday?
		Answer: Yes, the Independent Study Program through the participant’s local school district meets the definition of full-time school attendance.
Head of Household
9/30/09	3.	Question: A participant and his/her baby are aided on his/her mother’s CalWORKs case. Can he/she get his/her own CalWORKs case now that he/she is 18 years old?
		Answer: If the Cal-Learn participant is 18 years old, he/she has a choice of remaining on his/her mother’s CalWORKs case or opening his/her own case. The CalWORKs Eligibility Worker can help the participant make the change.
90-Day Participation Period
9/30/09	4.	Question: When a Cal-Learn teen graduates during the 90-DPP, what component end code is used to close the case?
		Answer: Code 57, Cal-Learn Ended, Teen Graduated, Participant to enter GAIN, is used in this situation. Component end code 59, Registered in Error, is never used when a teen graduates during the 90-DPP. Component end code 59 is used when a teen graduates before being assigned to the Cal-Learn Program.
9/30/09	5.	Question: Can a participant receive a bonus or sanction during the 90-DPP?
		Answer: Report cards or diplomas earned during the 90-DPP cannot be used to earn a bonus or impose a sanction. However, report cards or diplomas earned even one-day after the completion of the 90-DPP can be used to earn a bonus or impose a sanction.
Report Cards/Progress Reports
9/30/09	6.	Question: If a Cal-Learn participant fails to provide a report card by the due date, is a sanction imposed?
		Answer: When a participant fails to provide a report card timely, a CL 3, Cal-Learn Notice of a Participation Problem, is initiated by the contractor and if there is no good cause a sanction is imposed.
9/30/09	7.	Question: Can the Case Manager send a sanction recommendation on the date of the CL 3 appointment?
		Answer: The sanction recommendation should not be submitted until the 10th day of the “reasonable effort period.”
9/30/09	8.	Question: If a Cal-Learn teen attends summer school, does the teen have to submit the summer school report card to the Case Manager?
		Answer: When the summer school report card period is one of the 4 reporting periods listed in the teen’s case plan and on the GEARS MCLP screen, the teen must submit that report card to the Case Manager. If the summer school report card period is not listed in the case plan and on the GEARS MCLP screen, the teen is not required to submit that report card.
9/30/09	9.	Question: If the Cal-Learn teen changes schools in the middle of a report card period, and does not finish a total quarter at either school, what is acceptable verification of grades from the schools?
		Answer: The teen must provide documentation from both schools to indicate progress for the entire report card period.
9/30/09	10.	Question: When is a transcript acceptable for a report card or progress report?
		Answer: A transcript is acceptable in the following situations: The teen lost his/her report card and the school provides a transcript as a replacement. The school does not regularly issue report cards/progress reports and refuses to complete the Cal-Learn Student Academic Report. The teen is attending high school and taking courses at the local college for which he/she is receiving high school credits. The college only provides transcripts as proof of grades and credits.
9/30/09	11.	Question: If the teen loses his/her report card, should an affidavit be completed by the teen to determine good cause for lateness?
		Answer: Yes, please refer to the answer above.
9/30/09	12.	Question: What is acceptable verification for good cause?
		Answer: See the GAIN Program Handbook Chapter 1812.8, Good Cause Determination; follow the instructions for determining good cause.
9/30/09	13.	Question: If the teen turns in a report card with a “No Mark” as the grade, how is the report card processed?
		Answer: A “No Mark”; is considered an “Incomplete” grade; follow the instructions in the GAIN Program Handbook, Chapter 1812.7 School Progress, .9, Incomplete Grade.
9/30/09	14.	Question: How is a report card processed if it has an “unsatisfactory” in the remarks section, but the grade on the report card is a “C” or 2.0 GPA or above?
		Answer: Use the letter grade or GPA as the determining factor.
9/30/09	15.	Question: How is a report card processed if it states only “passing” in the grade section?
		Answer: A report card showing only a “passing” in the grade section is considered “Adequate.”
9/30/09	16.	Question: If the school issues a grade for “Homeroom,” does that grade count towards the teens GPA?
		Answer: If the school requires the teen to attend Homeroom and lists a grade on the report card, the grade is used in determining the teens GPA. If the school does not list a grade on the report card, the class does not count in determining the GPA.
9/30/09	17.	Question: What should the Case Manager do if the teen turns in a report card or progress report that appears to be altered?
		Answer: The Case Manager should contact the school to determine if the school or the teacher made a correction to the report card/progress report, the response from the school should be documented in the case record and on the recommendation for a bonus or sanction. If the teen did alter the report card/progress report the Case Manager must follow the instructions in the GAIN Program Handbook, School Progress Section, Altered/Falsified Report Cards/Progress Reports.
Cal-Learn Volunteer
9/30/09	18.	Question: A Cal-Learn teen turns 19 during the summer, has not been attending school and decides to volunteer to stay in the program. Does the teen have to enroll in school immediately or can he/she wait to enroll in September?
		Answer: Since the Cal-Learn teen was not attending school, the teen must enroll immediately in a program that will lead to a high school diploma or equivalent. If the teen does not enroll in a program, the teen is deregistered and must transition into GAIN WtW. Once the teen enrolls in a high school/GED program, he/she may return to the Cal-Learn Program as a volunteer.
9/30/09	19.	Question: A 19-year old Cal-Learn teen, who is not attending school, volunteers to stay in the program and enrolls in high school. How much time is allowed for the teen to submit verification of school enrollment?
		Answer: Because the school may not provide verification of enrollment for three or four weeks, extra time is allowed for the teen to provide the verification. The Case Manager should let the GSW know that the teen is enrolled and waiting for verification from the school. The Case Manager may contact the school, via telephone, for a “verbal” verification, document the conversation in the case record and inform the GSW.
9/30/09	20.	Question: Two months ago when the participant turned 19, he/she decided not to volunteer to stay in the Cal-Learn Program, but now he/she would like to go back to the Cal-Learn Program and get his/her high school diploma or the GED. Can the participant do that?
		Answer: Yes, a CalWORKs participant who was in the Cal-Learn Program and chose not to volunteer to stay in the program at the time he/she turned 19, may return to the program, up until his/her 20^th birthday, even if he/she is currently participating in the GAIN Welfare-to-Work Program.
Support Services
9/30/09	21.	Question: What is retroactive for transportation and ancillary services?
		Answer: Retroactive is any request for transportation services that is two months or more prior to the request for services. Attendance verification is required before a participant can receive retroactive transportation payments.
9/30/09	22.	Question: How far back can retroactive services go for transportation?
		Answer: There is no limit on how far back retroactive services may be issued for transportation. However, the participant must have verification that he/she was eligible to the services.
9/30/09	23.	Question: If a participant lives only a mile from the high school, can he/she receive transportation services?
		Answer: Yes, the teen can receive transportation services even if he/she lives only a mile from school.