Work-Based Learning

The Work-Based Learning Program is designed to bring together the components necessary for a successful career:  Education and Experience. This program allows students the opportunity to receive "real world" work experience while gaining high school credit.

Mission:

To provide educational and occupational experiences for students that will assist them in becoming productive citizens in the community.

Goal:

To provide students the opportunity to receive both academic and occupational experiences in the world of work that will increase their knowledge, skills, and abilities for further education and employment.

Objectives:

• To allow students to receive occupational experience in business/industries related to the career focus of the work-based learning program and the student's career objectives.
• To allow students to develop positive attitudes and work habits for job placement.
• To allow students to develop work ethics, salable skills, and knowledge necessary for successful careers.
• To allow students to develop self-confidence, maturity, and a feeling of achievement.
• To permit students to participate in academic and occupational experiences in businesses/industries that cannot be duplicated in the classroom.
• To provide opportunities for students to apply knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to real life situations.
• To improve business/industry/school relationships.
• To motivate students to excel in all educational pursuits.
• To give students an opportunity to improve communication skills.
• To expand students' knowledge of available occupations, employment requirements, and working conditions.
• To provide students an opportunity for a smooth transition into further education and the work force.

To the Students:

• Establishes a clear connection between education and work.
• Increases motivation and retention by showing the relevance of academic and occupational instruction.
• Provides opportunities to explore possible careers and enhances skill development.
• Develops workplace responsibility and positive work habits and attitudes.
• Encourages completion of secondary education and enrollment in post-secondary education.
• Provides opportunities for leadership development.

To the Business and Industry:

• Provides an opportunity to prepare future employees.
• Offers a source of skilled and motivated future employees.
• Offers an opportunity to provide community services.
• Increases employer visibility in education.
• Provides an opportunity to communicate required job-specific skills to educational personnel.

To the School:

• Keeps academic and occupational curricula up-to-date through communication with business and industry.
• Provides access to the latest equipment and technology.
• Enhances education's ability to meet the needs of diverse student populations.
• Makes education more relevant and valuable to students.
• Promotes faculty interaction with the business community.
• Facilitates communication regarding actual academic and occupational proficiencies required by business and industry.

To the Community:

• Provides an informed, competent, and productive future workforce.
• Ensures cooperation and understanding between education, business, and the community.
• Enhances awareness of local employment opportunities.
• Builds the foundation for a more productive local economy

Work-Based Learning students are expected to excel in three major work ethic areas: academic performance, school and workplace behavior, and job performance. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 80 or better. If a student is borderline to or actually failing a class he/she must notify the work-based learning coordinator of this situation (see academic probation policy below). Failure of notification could result in either loss of early release or attending a study skills session on Saturday. Students must demonstrate acceptable behavior at school and at the work site. Students are expected to follow the standards of behavior of the school as well as the job site. Students are expected to make all efforts to succeed on the job. Job expectations include: appropriate dress, time management, good attendance, getting along with co-workers, following instructions, treating supervisor with courtesy and respect, accepting constructive criticism, and asking questions when needed.

Policies

Attendance:
You must assume responsibility for regular attendance at school and at your work site. If you are absent from school you CANNOT go to work that day. You are required to call the work-based learning coordinator and your work site mentor by 10:00 A.M. on the day of the absence. If you know ahead of time that you will not be at school and work, you should notify the work-based learning coordinator and your work site mentor as soon as possible. There are exceptions to working on the day of an absence. Those exceptions are doctor's appointments, death in the family, or funeral. Coordinator should be notified ahead of time. Failure to call in, regardless of the reason, will result in points deducted from your monthly time sheet.

Academic Probation:
If the student's grade drops to a 70 or below in any subject, he/she is placed on academic probation. Early release privileges may be revoked until his/her grade has improved to a passing grade. Work-Based Learning coordinator, along with employer, will discuss the alternatives with the possibility of early release privileges being revoked and student being dismissed from Work-Based Learning program.

Dismissal from Work Site:
Any student who is fired by his/her employer will in turn be dismissed from the work-based learning program. This will result in the student receiving no credit for the class. Alternate arrangements will be made to accommodate class time.

Procedures

Application for Program:
For a student to be eligible to participate in the Work-Based Learning Program, they must complete an application that includes three teacher recommendations. Students must have an overall 'B' average to be eligible. In addition, students must have good attendance and behavior records, a career goal, and have taken or are taking courses related to their career goal and desired work site. Once students are accepted into the program, parents will be asked to attend an information session during which they will learn more about the program policies, get assignment packets, and have a chance to ask questions.

Training Agreement and Training Plan:
A training agreement between the student, a parent/guardian, the employer, and the Work-Based Learning coordinator is established, so that all parties will be aware of each person's responsibilities. This document must be on file at the school for students to participate. A training plan will be created by the employer and student to list the tasks the students will be involved in and responsible for while on the work site.