MACCRAY Special Education Work-Based Learning Program Helping Students Climb the Ladder of Career Success By: Elyse Hagen, LD/DCD Special Education Teacher & WBL Coordinator

What is Work-Based Learning? Work-Based Learning (WBL) is instruction occurring at the school and a community- based setting. (MDE, pg. 3) Work-Based Learning (WBL) is instruction occurring at the school and a community- based setting. (MDE, pg. 3) Students aged 14 years or older engage in nonpaid career exploration, career assessment, and work-related training experiences to identify their career interests, assess their employment skills and training needs, and develop the skills and attitudes necessary for paid employment. After such instruction, students engage in paid cooperative work experience. (NCSET) Students aged 14 years or older engage in nonpaid career exploration, career assessment, and work-related training experiences to identify their career interests, assess their employment skills and training needs, and develop the skills and attitudes necessary for paid employment. After such instruction, students engage in paid cooperative work experience. (NCSET)

Why do we need a WBL program? There are transition service requirements for youth with disabilities as identified by IDEA It is described as: There are transition service requirements for youth with disabilities as identified by IDEA It is described as: A coordinated set of activities for a student with a disability that is designed within an outcome-oriented process, that promotes movement from school to post school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation; is based on the individual students needs, taking into account the students preferences and interests; and includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post school adult-living objectives, and if appropriate, acquisition of daily-living skills and functional vocational evaluation.A coordinated set of activities for a student with a disability that is designed within an outcome-oriented process, that promotes movement from school to post school activities, including postsecondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation; is based on the individual students needs, taking into account the students preferences and interests; and includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post school adult-living objectives, and if appropriate, acquisition of daily-living skills and functional vocational evaluation.

Components of MACCRAY WBL Program Our program integrates classroom learning with productive structured work experience. The work experience is supplemented with instruction and activities that apply, reinforce, refine and extend the learning that occurs during work.

How do students benefit from WBL? Improve academic success Improve academic success Increase work readiness skills Increase work readiness skills Help disabled youth acquire higher paying jobs Help disabled youth acquire higher paying jobs Help students make career decisions by exploring different careers of interest Help students make career decisions by exploring different careers of interest Increase self-confidence Increase self-confidence Hands-on training and experience Hands-on training and experience Connection between school and work Connection between school and work Opportunity to add experiences to resume Opportunity to add experiences to resume

The school and businesses benefit too! WBL motivates students to be productive members of society WBL motivates students to be productive members of society Enhances employability of youth Enhances employability of youth Improve relationships with the community Improve relationships with the community Improve school attendance and reduce the drop-out rate Improve school attendance and reduce the drop-out rate Introduces future employees to work place ethics Introduces future employees to work place ethics Future employees gain better communication skills Future employees gain better communication skills

TEAMWORK In order for the WBL program to be effective and to meet the needs of the student, multiple parties need to be involved. The school, employer, WBL Coordinator, the student and parents need to be on the same page. This is crucial to the success of the program. Student & Parent(s) WBL Coordinator Employer School

WBL Coordinators Responsibilities Assure program meets state standards Assure program meets state standards Develop partnerships with businesses/community Develop partnerships with businesses/community Prepare Individual Training Agreements and Training Plans Prepare Individual Training Agreements and Training Plans Keep student records and conduct progress reviews with the student and employer Keep student records and conduct progress reviews with the student and employer Coordinate learning activities in the classroom with those in the workplace Coordinate learning activities in the classroom with those in the workplace

School Responsibilities Support the program Support the program Provide students the opportunity to participate in WBL experiences Provide students the opportunity to participate in WBL experiences Verify proper insurance coverage Verify proper insurance coverage Provide sufficient time for the WBL coordinator to manage the program Provide sufficient time for the WBL coordinator to manage the program Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations

Employer Responsibilities Follow child labor laws Follow child labor laws Instruct the student in competencies identified in the training plan and document students progress Instruct the student in competencies identified in the training plan and document students progress Treat student as regular employee Treat student as regular employee Provide student with safety training Provide student with safety training Properly train student on the safe operation of any equipment Properly train student on the safe operation of any equipment

Parent/guardian Responsibilities Support the student in meeting the requirements of the program Support the student in meeting the requirements of the program Participate in any progress reviews scheduled Participate in any progress reviews scheduled

Students Responsibilities Meet requirements established by school and employer Meet requirements established by school and employer Maintain acceptable performance at school and on the job. Maintain acceptable performance at school and on the job. Participate in Progress Reviews Participate in Progress Reviews

Requirements to Participate: You must: You must: Be at least 16 years of age Be at least 16 years of age Maintain a C average Maintain a C average Have satisfactory school attendance Have satisfactory school attendance Enroll in Career Skills or Living On Your Own class Enroll in Career Skills or Living On Your Own class Obey school rules Obey school rules

MACCRAY WBL GOALS Help students understand career application of subject matter Help students understand career application of subject matter Teach and reinforce productive work habits Teach and reinforce productive work habits Emphasize career awareness and exploration Emphasize career awareness and exploration

WBL helps students understand how to put the pieces together to prepare students for a successful career.

Resources National Center on Secondary Education and Transition. altools/flsa/intro.asp National Center on Secondary Education and Transition. altools/flsa/intro.asp altools/flsa/intro.asp altools/flsa/intro.asp MN Department of Children, Families, & Learning. Connecting Youth to Work- Based Learning. MN Department of Children, Families, & Learning. Connecting Youth to Work- Based Learning. MN Department of Education Career and Technical Education. 101 Work-Based Learning FAQs. MN Department of Education Career and Technical Education. 101 Work-Based Learning FAQs.