(a) Notwithstanding Article 3.2 (commencing with Section 11320), there shall be no limits on the amount of time that a teen under 19 years of age may participate in the initial education components of the program in order to achieve a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(b) A teen who begins participation in the program before 19 years of age may continue to receive needed intensive case management services after 19 years of age until the individual earns a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(c) A month in which a recipient participates in the program pursuant to this section shall not be counted as a month of receipt of aid for the purposes of subdivision (a) of, and paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of, Section 11454.