DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style only - No concept changes

Actual hours spent in supervised study time and up to one hour of unsupervised study time for each hour of class time may count towards the weekly participation hours in a Self-Initiated Program (SIP) activity.

Total hours of study time counted towards CalWORKs Hourly Participation Requirements cannot exceed the total hours of study time recommended by the school.

Additionally, the total hours of study time counted towards CalWORKs Hourly Participation Requirements in combination with actual scheduled class time hours cannot exceed the participant’s weekly required participation hours (20/30/35).

A participant may receive child care for study time needed for a class, which is part of their approved Welfare-to-Work (WtW) activity.
 

Assembly Bill 1811 expanded the activities that can be assigned as part of a SIP to include “study time provided for by an educational or training institution.”

Effective July 1, 2018, study time (unsupervised and/or supervised) may be assigned as part of a SIP activity.
 

Study Time

The time required outside of the regular class period to complete assignments that count towards the completion of an approved degree or certificate program.

School’s Policy on Recommended Study Time

The number of hours that a school recommends to all its students for each class hour/unit they take.

Credit Study Time

Study time that is scheduled and listed on the student’s class schedule. Student earns class credit.

Supervised Study Time

Study time done under the supervision of a school official.

Unsupervised Study Time

Study time that is not done under the supervision of a school official.

Types of Study Time

• Credit Study Time;
• Supervised Study Time; and
• Unsupervised Study Time.

Recommended Study Time

In order to count any (unsupervised and/or supervised) study time for SIP activities, the GAIN Services Worker (GSW)/ Contracted Case Manager (CCM) must assist the participant in providing a copy of the school’s policy on recommended study time.

The recommended study hours may differ from program to program.
 

• Program: Mechanical Engineering
  Recommended study time by the school: three hours of study time for each hour of class time
• Program: Psychology
  Recommended study time by the school: two hours of study time for each hour of class time

At no time, should the recommended study time for the same program change from student to student.

A CalWORKs participant in a WtW activity in the same program as a non-CalWORKs student will be recommended to study the same number of hours, not more or less by the school.

Non-CalWORKs student

Program: Accounting
Recommended study time by the school: two hours of study time for each hour of class time

CalWORKs student

Program: Accounting
Recommended study time by the school: two hours of study time for each hour of class time

The school’s recommended study time should remain the same, unless the student has been diagnosed with a learning disability. At that point, additional accommodations will be provided to the participant.

Credit or Units

The participant receives credits or units for internships or study lab courses that count towards the completion of their approved SIP (degree or certificate program).

The participant must provide the GSW/CCM with a class schedule showing credit/unit received for study time courses, such as study lab or internship.

Supervised Study Time

Study time that is supervised, documented, and verified by the school may count towards hours of participation. To count supervised study time towards participation, the following verification must be provided to the GSW/CCM:

• A copy of the school’s policy on recommended study time; and
• A written statement from the participant or by a school or CalWORKs school official, on behalf of the participant, indicating the number of study time hours that will be supervised per week.

This statement must be provided to the GSW/CCM once a semester/term (with every new class schedule or when there is a change in the class schedule) to count the supervised study time as participation hours.

Monthly, participants need to report and provide proof of their actual hours of supervised study time to the GSW/CCM. Participants may use the GN 6365, Monthly Attendance Report Form, to document their actual hours of supervised study time and attach proof of their supervised study time, such as a lab print-out or written letter.

Unsupervised Study Time

One hour of unsupervised study time for every hour of class time may count as participation hours when a copy of the school’s policy on recommended study time is provided to the GSW/CCM.

Note: Schools may recommend two or more hours of study time for each hour of class time or unit (2:1 ratio), but only up to one hour of study time for each hour of class time (1:1 ratio) can be applied as unsupervised study time. The remaining school’s recommended study time hours must be supervised to be counted.

Monthly, participants need to report their actual hours of unsupervised study time to the GSW/CCM. Participants may use the GN 6365 to document their actual hours of unsupervised study time.
 

Recommended Study Time Statement

The school’s policy on recommended study time can be:

• A copy of the school’s catalog page or student handbook indicating the recommended study time for students;
• A written statement on the school’s letterhead; or
• A written statement on the student’s GN 6005A, Verification of Welfare-to-Work Participation Hours, or current class schedule from a school official.

The written statement must include:

• The school’s official stamp; and
• The name and contact information of the school official who is indicating the recommended study time.

This statement only needs to be provided once for the duration of the program to the GSW/CCM. It does not need to be provided every semester/term or attached to the GN 6365 every month.

Credit/Unit

A class schedule showing credit/unit received for study time courses, such as study lab or internship.

Unsupervised Study Time

• The school’s policy on recommended study time, see Recommended Study Time Statement above for detailed information; and
• Monthly, participants must report their actual hours of unsupervised study time to the GSW/CCM. Participants may use the GN 6365 to document and report their actual hours of unsupervised study time to the GSW/CCM.

Supervised Study Time

1. The school’s policy on recommended study time, see Recommended Study Time Statement above for detailed information;
   
   
2. A Supervised Study Time statement. The statement may be a written statement from the participant on a GEN 853, Affidavit, or by a school official, on behalf of the participant, indicating the number of study time hours that will be supervised per week.
   
   This statement needs to be provided every semester/term (with a new class schedule or when there is a change in the class schedule); and
   
   
3. Monthly, participants must report and provide proof of their actual hours of supervised study time to the GSW/CCM. Participants may use the GN 6365 to document their actual hours of supervised study time and attach proof of their supervised study time, such as a lab print-out or written letter.
   

Proof of supervised study time can be:

A lab time log print-out that includes:

1. The participant’s name;
2. The date and time logged in and out for each session;
3. The printed name and contact information of the school official who supervised the study time; and
4. The school’s or school’s CalWORKs Program official stamp.

A written letter that includes:

1. The school’s letterhead;
2. The participant’s name;
3. The actual amount of study time hours supervised;
4. The printed name, signature, and contact information of the school official who supervised the study time; and
5. The school’s or school’s CalWORKs Program official stamp.