The California School Age Families Education (Cal-SAFE) Program, established by Chapter 1078, Statutes of 1998, became operational in July 2000. It is designed to increase the availability of support services necessary for enrolled expectant/parenting students to improve academic achievement and parenting skills and to provide a quality child care/development program for their children. This comprehensive, continuous, and community-linked school-based program replaces the Pregnant Minors Program (PMP), School Age Parenting and Infant Development (SAPID) Program, and Pregnant and Lactating Students (PALS) Program.
Purpose and Objective
The Cal-SAFE Program builds upon education reform initiatives, assures a quality education program with high standards for enrolled students, and mandates accountability of local educational agencies (LEAs) for performance of students and their children in meeting program goals. The Cal-SAFE Program is designed to improve the educational experience, increase the availability of support services for enrolled students, and provide child care and development services for their children. The Program provides the first opportunity for local education agencies throughout California to access sufficient resources to support a seamless, cost-effective service delivery system from point of entry into the Program until graduation. It is the intent of the Legislature that school districts and county offices of education implementing the Cal-SAFE Program connect with existing program strategies and, whenever possible, build upon existing local collaboratives to provide a unified integrated system of services to children, youth, and families.
