Work-Based Learning (WBL) Program

The Design

The Work-Based Learning (WBL) Program Roadmap is designed for students who are interested in pursuing gainful employment after completing high school.

Students in the WBL program are either seeking full-time, entry level employment or may be seeking full-time employment in apprentice-based industries or trades, such as electrical work or plumbing, etc.

While at JHS

Students will pursue a Regents Diploma. They will take a variety of courses that meet their high school degree requirements and electives that support employment skills. Interview skills, communication and writing skills, workplace expectations, workplace safety, personal finance and budgeting will be emphasized. For example, students may draft resumes, participate in mock interviews, complete work-based application and job placement paperwork. Students may learn about maintaining bank accounts, applying for loans, maintaining credit scores and establishing a household budget, among other topics.

Job shadowing and/internship opportunities will be incorporated into the WBL program, as they best fit with each student’s pursuits. Others may attend one year skilled trades programs at the Career & Technical Center (for example, HVAC, electrical etc).

Characteristics

While all students are unique, the following may prove helpful in determining the choice of the Work-Based Learning program:

• You are interested in pursuing gainful full-time employment after graduating from high school.
• You appreciate courses and assignments that apply to your real life, versus subjects that are less practical.
• You are interested in a specific trade or industry that does not require college and may not be offered at the Career & Technical Center.
• You want to learn through real-life experiences, experimentation and internships.

Profile of students

Jonathan has looked forward to finishing high school and starting on the rest of his life! Getting a full-time job and earning a paycheck will help him make his own way in the world and be less reliant on his family for support. He has always learned best when he was involved with work, and had his first part-time job busing tables in a local diner one summer. A fine-dining restaurant has an opening for a waiter and he has already completed his application and is being interviewed the day after graduation. He knows this will earn more money and the owner has a great reputation for treating employees well, especially if they are hard workers!

Emily wants to be an electrician. Her father and her uncles are electricians. They own a successful business and they are in the Electrical Workers’ Union. Her dad wasn’t surprised that she wanted to join the family business. Since she was a toddler, she had her own tool belt and hard hat! She has an appointment at the local union, and is planning to begin an apprenticeship after graduating.