The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 1604 requiring counties to offer completing a high school diploma or the equivalent as a welfare-to-work plan.
For clients who do have a high school diploma counties must develop a welfare-to-work plan designed to earn a high school diploma or equivalent as the primary activity before making any other assignment. If the client does not want to participate in education at that time, the client may continue in other welfare-to-work activities. The client must make this choice in writing. These requirements do not apply to clients participating in, required to participate in or exempt from Cal-Learn.
A plan to complete a high school diploma equivalent must meet weekly welfare-to-work participation requirements. Hours in education may include homework time. Supervised homework time and up to one hour of unsupervised homework time for each hour of class time may be included. Distance or electronic learning is an option to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent. Assigned hours can also include English as a Second Language classes and accommodations or other resources necessary for the client to earn a high school diploma or equivalent.
If the client requires additional hours to meet requirements or if the appraisal determines that additional activities may be beneficial, the client must be referred to Assessment to complete their plan. The client cannot be required to attend Assessment prior to beginning their course of study unless a course of study is not immediately available. Other assigned activities cannot reduce the hours assigned to the course of study without the client’s written consent. Clients age 19 or younger are not required to participate in additional activities. (ACL 18-40, April 2, 2018.)