Work-Based Learning

As part of the classroom experience, students of adolescent age have an opportunity to receive specialized pre-vocational training and experiences in work-based learning.  The goals are to enhance positive work attitudes, improve attention to task, promote following directions and work persistence to complete a task.  Classroom teachers begin assessing student’s work type of skills as early as 11 years old.  Once the students are 14 there is a job coach assigned to the classroom to assist in developing these skills.  Students participate in work-based learning through structured learning experiences that focus on hands-on off campus and / or on campus work opportunities.  We look at each student individually to provide them with job sampling during their adolescent years to determine where they may be most proficient and successful.  At age 16, we begin looking at supported off campus job experiences starting with one or two locations.  As students get older, we look to increase these opportunities as appropriate for the student.    

Some examples of on-campus work-based learning are: campus wide mail delivery, taking order for helium filled balloon bouquets or material delivery to a variety of classrooms throughout campus.  Classrooms where the majority of students are 14 and older, create, run, sell & advertise their own class business.  Some students, ages 11-14, depending on their skill set, participate in our functional kitchen experiences.  This experience creates a simple meal and other snack items to sell to our staff.  The focus of work based learning includes:  creating a simple menu, purchasing the necessary items, preparing the simple meal / snack and participating in delivery services throughout campus.