Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11340. Section 11340.
This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the CalWORKs Educational Opportunity and Attainment Program.
ARTICLE 3.7. CalWORKs Educational Opportunity and Attainment Program [11340. - 11346.]
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 3.7.
in effectCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11341. Section 11341.
(a)
A CalWORKs recipient may apply to receive a one-time education incentive award in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500) for completion of a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(b)
(1)
A CalWORKs recipient may apply to receive a one-time education stipend totaling one thousand dollars ($1,000) for enrollment in a term of an education or training program leading to a career technical education program certificate, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree.
(2)
The stipend described in paragraph (1) shall be paid to a CalWORKs recipient at the outset of the term for which he or she is registered.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11342. Section 11342.
(a)
(1)
A CalWORKs recipient who applies for an education incentive award pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 11341 shall submit evidence of completion of the high school educational program to the county.
(2)
Upon verification of completion of the high school educational program described in paragraph (1), the county shall pay the recipient the award described in subdivision (a) of Section 11341 in the month following receipt of the record of completion, if submitted by the 11th day of the month, or in the second month following receipt of the record of completion if submitted later than the 11th day of the month.
(b)
(1)
A CalWORKs
recipient who applies for an education stipend described in subdivision (b) of Section 11341 shall submit evidence of enrollment to the county. A recipient is not eligible unless all of the following criteria are satisfied:
(A)
The recipient is enrolled in an education or training program that is included in the recipient’s welfare-to-work plan approved by the county.
(B)
The recipient is enrolled in an education or training program consistent with subdivision (f) of Section 11325.23.
(C)
The recipient is enrolled in an education or training program described in subdivision (b) of Section 11341 while receiving CalWORKs assistance.
(2)
Within 10 business days of verifying that a recipient is enrolled in an education or training program as described in
paragraph (1), the county shall certify that the recipient is eligible for the education stipend and shall issue the stipend payment to the recipient.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11343. Section 11343.
(a)
A CalWORKs recipient who is receiving an education incentive award or education stipend but then ceases to receive CalWORKs assistance is not eligible for the same education incentive award if he or she begins receiving CalWORKs assistance in the future.
(b)
A CalWORKS recipient is permanently ineligible for an education incentive award or education stipend under either of the following circumstances:
(1)
The recipient has exhausted his or her CalWORKS benefits.
(2)
The recipient has committed public assistance fraud, as described in Article 7 (commencing with Section 11476.6).
(c)
A CalWORKs recipient shall not receive an education award or education stipend in any month during which he or she is sanctioned.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11345. Section 11345.
The education incentive awards and stipends authorized pursuant to this article are not entitlement benefits. A county is required to comply with the provisions of this article only to the extent funding for this purpose is appropriated in the annual Budget Act and available to the county. A county shall not be required to expend county funds for the provision of education incentive awards and stipends pursuant to this article.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11346. Section 11346.
This article shall become operative on January 1, 2018.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026