Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services or designee to sign an agreement with Learning Time Inc. for the provision of Learning Disabilities, Evaluations and Academic Achievement Coaching for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, in the amount of $660,000; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services or designee to sign up to three amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($66,000) of the amended contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and do not exceed the maximum aggregate amount of $726,000.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services or designee to sign an agreement with Learning Time Inc. for the provision of Learning Disabilities, Evaluations and Academic Achievement Coaching for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, in the amount of $660,000; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services or designee to sign up to three amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($66,000) of the amended contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and do not exceed the maximum aggregate amount of $726,000.
SUMMARY:
The Department is seeking to renew their contract with Learning Time, Inc. to provide learning disability (LD) evaluation and tutoring services to adult participants in the CWES Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program. The purpose of the LD evaluation in the CalWORKs program is to determine whether an individual has a learning disability that interferes with his or her ability to work and/or participate in other WTW activities.
DISCUSSION:
CalWORKs provides temporary financial assistance and other services to economically disadvantaged families with dependent children. The program is designed to assist families toward a path of work and self-sufficiency. As a condition of eligibility for CalWORKs, adults are required to work, or to participate in WTW activities that will increase their employability and move them toward earning enough money to support their family.
The CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) program requires that the County offer a learning disability screening to all adult CWES participants. Those who score "12" or more on a standardized and normed screening tool are then offered a learning disability evaluation that identifies the specific learning disabilities and recommended accommodations. This agreement is for the provision of learning disability evaluations and related services for the CWES Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program, including, but not limited to, direct instruction to individuals and groups to relieve identified disabilities that prevent success in meeting WTW goals and the participation in Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings to assist customers in the CalWORKs Family Stabilization program.
This contract provides for the provision of LD evaluation services to identify customers with learning needs, determine if accommodations are necessary for the individual to effectively participate in the WTW program, provide individual academic achievement coaching/tutoring to eligible individuals, provide lab/group workshops to eligible individuals with common goals and needs, provide training to CWES staff to help them identify indicators of possible learning needs and how to discuss the topic with WTW participants, and provide ongoing presentations to WTW Job Search Workshop (JSW) participants on the identification and impacts of learning needs on their life.
This agreement was awarded through a formal Request for Proposal (RFP#10968) process in March 2026.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT/COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Agreements as to form, as has the Auditor-Controller’s Office as to financial provisions.
FINANCING:
This agreement is funded with Family Stabilization Allocation funding. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues of $220,000 are included in the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget and FY 2027-28 and FY 2028-29 will incorporate total appropriations and revenues of $440,000 in the corresponding future budgets.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
This agreement correlates to the Well-Being and Quality of Life as well as the Diverse and Thriving Economy Strategic Plan Goals adopted by the Board of Supervisors by providing tools and services designed to help CalWORKs and Employment Services customers overcome educational and learning challenges and move toward self-sufficiency meeting a key objective for services.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Plan Goals:
_X__Well-Being and Quality of Life
____ Sustainable Infrastructure for the Present and Future
____ Safe and Resilient Communities
_X__Diverse and Thriving Economy
____ Dynamic Organization and Employer of Choice
____ Administrative
Prepared by: Phillip McCoun, Management Analyst II, x3372
Approved by: Roderick W. Franks, Director, x4430
Attachments: Agreement
The proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report.