TAMALPAIS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Larkspur, California

Course of Study

Work Experience

I.	INTRODUCTION

Work Experience is any type of employment that affords coordination between school and released time, is supervised, requires a standard of performance and regular attendance at both a control class (if required by local school) and a job station, pays a regular wage or other benefits and adheres to the child labor laws. This course is intended to develop in students more mature concepts of responsibility, the dependence of society upon the individual, the economic functioning of the community and to enlarge and develop the perception of the student to his/her immediate and future possibilities and the significance of his/her activities. It also affords the advantage of exploratory experience in occupational fields while still under school guidance and influence, with a view toward adjustment to eventual full-time employment. 

This course is designed for all students but will most probably have the greatest impact on students who may have trouble succeeding in the workplace without some structured assistance. To the student who has personality or learning difficulties which prevent him/her from adjusting to the regular school program and might result in withdrawal from school, it offers the possibility of employment under controlled school sponsorship which could mean the difference between success and failure.

This course is offered only at Tamiscal and San Andreas. It parallels the Workplace Learning course which is available at all high schools in the district. The difference between these two courses is that Work Experience is a mechanism for students to earn high school credit while working for pay. Work Experience requires attendance at the equivalent of one related instruction class each week. The work is generally not directly linked to coursework being done in school. Workplace Learning is designed to make an explicit connection between academic coursework and workplace field experiences, paid or unpaid. 

Students enrolled in Work Experience who are under the age of 18 and over the age of 14 must secure a work permit.

This course directly addresses Outcome 12 (Demonstrate school-to-work/post secondary transition skills and knowledge) and indirectly addresses Outcomes 1 and 2. It may, depending on the job placement, additionally address one or more of the other 11 outcomes.

This course addresses the Tam 21st Century Student and Instruction goals below:

•	Student: to provide an environment which supports academic, social and emotional growth and success and opportunities for student choice.
•	Instruction: to provide a program which prepares students for graduation and provides opportunities for student growth, development and post-secondary options.

The primary goal of Work Experience is to prepare students for the workplace. The following are also intended goals:

•	Allowing the opportunity for actual work in a chosen vocational field and the opportunity to observe others more advanced in that field
•	Development of a healthy attitude towards work and the significance of its contribution to society
•	Development of a sense of responsibility
•	Putting subjects studied in school into place in a real workplace
•	Introduce job standards required to keep a job and how to meet them.

II.	STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

All students will:

•	Interview for a job effectively
•	Complete assigned tasks at the workplace (and the control class, if required) satisfactorily
•	Work effectively with co-workers
•	Satisfy the employer by meeting the job standards
•	Complete required coursework

III.	ASSESSMENT

A.	Student Assessment

Students will be assessed through a variety of means including employer and teacher evaluations. If required, the control class will use class assignments, student presentations, quizzes and tests for student assessment. The grading criteria will be given to students in the beginning of the semester, preferably in writing.

B.	Course Assessment

Participation rates will be monitored. Corresponding to the curriculum cycle, staff will review documentation to determine if all legal requirements for Work Experience are being met. 

IV.	METHODS AND MATERIALS

A.	Methods 

This course is mostly a workplace-based course. Training will be specific for the chosen vocation. The related instructional class will use lectures, readings, activities, guest speakers and the Internet.

B.	Materials

There is no adopted textbook for this course. Teachers will use authentic workplace documents such as work permits, W-2 and W-4 forms, labor laws. 

C,	Technology

Each student will use technology appropriate to the work setting, as provided by the employer.

The related instruction class, if required, will use the Internet and other computer-based tools as needed.

V.	GENERAL INFORMATION

Work Experience is a variable credit course, with students earning 1 credit for every 18 hours or work. Students may earn up to 40 credits in Work Experience, but no more than 10 in any one semester. 

This course must be administered in accordance with State Education Code Article 7, Sections 51760, 51769.5.

A.	Prerequisites

A student must be at least 16 years of age or, if under the age of 16 years, a) is enrolled in grade 11 or higher, or b) the principal certifies that the student is in need of immediate work experience education in order to pursue employment opportunities, or c) the principal certifies that there is a probability that the student will no longer be enrolled as a full-time student without being provided the opportunity to enroll in a work experience education program, or d) the student’s individualized education program prescribes the type of training for which participation in a work experience education program is deemed appropriate. 

B.	Requirements Met

This course does not meet any specific district graduation requirements. Credits earned may be applied to the elective credit required for graduation.

This course does not meet any college/university entrance requirements.

Approved:

Revised: 4/99
Revised: 6/00
Revised: 1/15/04