School-to-work programs
By Andrew Blazier
The school-to-work program is designed to give students "the attitudes, skills, and informed expectations that will make them successful individuals and productive employees in a competitive 21st century economy," according to the School Transformation Advisory Council.
School-to-work applies to students at all grade levels. In the elementary and middle school grades, it is geared more toward career awareness. Teachers will use field trips and community speakers to introduce students to the working world.
At grades eight through 10, the school-to-work program contains elements of both career awareness and career exploration. The career exploration phase is designed to expose students to a variety of career options. This phase will include information interviews and job shadows with employers.
At the CAM program level (grades 11 and 12), students enter the structured career experience phase. This phase consists of unpaid internships, school-based enterprises and paid and simulated work. The career experience phase is designed to develop and assess the skills that students have learned in their CAM training.
Email the author