So, you want to do work-based learning at your school?Kent ISD Career Readiness Webinar

March 24, 2015

Welcome!

• Trudy Ngo-Brown• Kent ISD - Career Readiness Consultant

• Carol Deuling-Ravell• Sparta High School – Career Internship Program Coordinator

• Mike Kelley, Michael Spagnuolo• Kent Transition Center – Work-Based Learning Facilitators

Why Work-Based Learning?

• Allows for genuine career exploration

• Develops life skills• Problem-solving

• Interpersonal

• Time management

• Expands employability skills

• Improves school attendance and grades

Types of WBL Opportunities

• Student/Visitor

• Volunteer

• Work-Based Learning (non-CTE)

• Work-Based Learning (State-Approved CTEprograms)

• In-District/In-School Placements (for students with Transition Services Plan)

Work-Based Learning Definition

From MDE Pupil Accounting Manual – 5P

• A work-based learning experience is coordinated by a school district through a contract (training agreement) with an employer providing an educational experience related to school instruction (training plan) involving supervised work (employer) and monitored by a certificated teacher employed by the district.

Work-Based Learning Definition

IS

• Individual pupil placed at a job-site – paid or unpaid

• Working independently under employer supervision with periodic monitoring by teacher

IS NOT

• Experience with a group and teacher present

• Periodic job shadowing

Key Components

• Students in grades 9-12 for Non-CTE; 11-12 for CTE

• Certified teacher (vocationally certified for CTE)

• EDP alignment

• Experience must generate high school credit, but no more than ½ FTE*

• Documentation• Training Agreement*

• Training Plan*

• Certificated Teacher Worksite Visitation Records* (9 weeks, gen-ed; 30 days, SPED)

• Pupil Time Sheets/Attendance Records from the Worksite*

• Safety Instruction (provided by the school district)

• Verify workers compensation/general liability

How does it look in Kent County?

Staff from Sparta High School and Kent Transition Center share highlights

Overview of Work Based Learning at Sparta High School

• Carol Deuling-Ravell• Career Intern Coordinator at Sparta HS (10+ years)

• ~50 students each year in non-CTE placements• Pharmacy Technician at local pharmacy

• Physical Therapy and Athletic Training interns at local PT offices

• Financial Intern with Village of Sparta

• Veterinary Interns at local Veterinary offices

• Agricultural Interns working at local farms (crop and dairy)

• Health Care Interns at Spectrum and Mercy Health (Kent ISD Health Internship)

Career Internship Logistics

• Juniors and Seniors may take the Internship class

• Placements tied to career pathway and EDP• Students locate their own placement

• Release time to sites is typically at the end of their day• In the past we have had Internship at beginning and end of day

Career Internship Timeline

• Sparta HS students select Internship as a course

• Meet with students typically in semester before they have Internship

• Discuss what kind of placement qualifies as an Internship

• Students fill out Internship Program Application• Student shares sponsor contact information and I visit sponsor

• At start of semester:• We meet the entire first week of the semester

• We discuss topics like perception, dealing with others, learning styles, journaling, retirement, etc.

My role as Career Intern Coordinator at Sparta High School

• Site visits with students and partners (40%)

• Management of paperwork (30%)• Training agreements

• Training plans

• Collecting time sheets

• Grade reporting

• Partnership development (30%)

• Release time per day• Officially I am assigned to Internship 1 class period per day

Top Things to Know/Consider with WBL

• It takes time, typically more than you anticipate (especially in the beginning) and more than your Administrators know about.

• It is as important for a student to find out what they don’t want to do as what they do want to do.

• This is one of the coolest experiences I have had teaching. It is exciting to watch a student who was drifting find focus and excitement about the future.

Overview of WBL at Kent Transition Center

• Staff:• Mike Kelley and Michael Spagnuolo- (WBL-Facilitator)

• Brenda Brower, Robin Loughrin, Holly Nichols and Lori Patow-(WBL-ETS)

• KTC Areas of Study & Placement• 115 students

• Automotive

• Business/Child Care

• Culinary/ Hospitality

• Facilities /Maintenance

• Retail

How do students participate in WBL?

• Age 17 and a senior- not older than 20;

• Attends an LEA within Kent ISD

• If the student is receiving special education services, he/she is assigned to a special education teacher employed by the educating district

• Release time at site is 2 to 2 ½ hours-AM or PM

• Semester or trimester (based on home school of student)

Breakdown of our roles at KTC

• Collaboration meetings• with KTC team, parents/guardians, sending schools, employer sites

• Site visits with students and partners• Daily to meet requirement of visits every 30 calendar days

• Management of paperwork• Training agreements

• Training plans

• Collecting time sheets

• Grade reporting

• Partnership development

• Release time of staff per day: Full-day

Top Things to Know/Consider with WBL

• There must be a buy in/cooperation from the students, parents, and WBL sites.

• It takes a lot of time to set up quality WBL sites according to each learner’s needs.

• Students need to be taught about expectations and should have some sort of training before they start WBL.

• Maintaining a quality program requires a lot of organization• Paperwork

• Communication with students, employers, district staff, parents

Highlights from KTC

Highlights from KTC

Highlights from KTC

Highlights from KTC

Resources

MDE – Office of Career & Technical Education

Resources

• MDE Work-Based Learning Guide

• Pupil Accounting Manual - Section 5-P: Work-Based Learning Experiences

• Michigan Career and Placement Association (MCPA)

What now?

• Reference the documents and websites provided

• Kent County Pupil Accounting Auditor, Emily Taylor• emilytaylor@kentisd.org

• MCPA Fall Conference• October 26 or 27 - Mt. Pleasant

• KOMAC Spring Meeting- April 22 • noon-2:30PM at Kent Transition Center

• Email trudyngobrown@kentisd.org for a registration link

Questions?