CODE: 6142.12
SECTION: INSTRUCTION
CAREER EDUCATION
Career Awareness
The Board of Education believes that constructive attitudes and concepts involving the dignity of all kinds of work belong in the curriculum from the beginning grades. Educational programs shall continuously expose pupils to the nature of the wide variety of careers available, and when practical give actual hands-on experience.
The Board shall adopt the curriculum for the half-year credit career education course required for graduation.
The cross-content workplace readiness standards shall be infused into the curriculum throughout the grades in age appropriate activities. The standards are:
All students will develop career planning and workplace readiness skills.
All students will use technology, information and other tools.
All students will use critical thinking, decision-making and problem solving skills.
All students will demonstrate self-management skills.
All students will apply safety principles.
When any hands-on experience requires use of power tools, etc., all eye protection and other appropriate safety regulations shall be observed.
The Board shall provide programs of vocational education:
A. To prepare pupils for gainful employment as semiskilled workers or technicians or semi-professionals in recognized occupations or in new occupations as needs are identified;
B. To prepare pupils for enrollment in advanced or highly skilled vocational and technical education programs;
C. To assist pupils in the making of informed and meaningful occupational choices.
For purposes of this policy, "vocational education" shall be defined as any instruction intended to give or improve fitness for profitable employment or homemaking. The board will support a program of vocational education which shall include:
Vocational courses of study as part of the regular curriculum of the school;
The enrollment of pupils in a program of vocational education outside this district, provided that such program is not offered in this district and provided that such enrollment has been approved by the board and parent/guardian of the pupil;
A work-study program for the employment of qualified pupils in public agencies and institutions;
A cooperative vocational education program to offer pupils experience in private employment.
In order to maintain these programs the Board shall approve the content and organization of all vocational courses of study, approve the transfer of pupils to out-of-district vocational education programs, establish the number of credits to be awarded toward graduation for vocational education courses of study and for cooperative education programs, and shall adopt the safety regulations required by law. The Superintendent shall be responsible for developing procedures which shall ensure that:
A. All approved courses of study are carried out;
B. Pupils participating in part-time cooperative programs are not exploited, illegally employed, or employed under conditions which fail to safeguard their health and interests;
C. The development of vocational curricula is conjoined with a continuing assessment of the employment demands and resources of the community and the needs and interests of pupils;
D. The operation of vocational education is in compliance with rules of the state board of education regarding vocational education, including development of an eye safety program and an overall vocational education safety program;
E. Admission to vocational education programs is open to such regularly enrolled pupils as are qualified by their interest, motivation, potential for achieving occupational or other goals of the program, and those referred by appropriate staff members;
F. The vocational education of disadvantaged and disabled pupils is supplemented by suitable programs of remedial instruction;
G. An advisory council from business and industry is formed and consulted as required by law.
The Superintendent shall seek and use all available state, federal and private sources of revenue for the financial support of vocational education in this district.
All pupils participating in vocational education programs supervised by this Board or in shared-time programs are considered to be regularly enrolled in the schools of this district, and subject to the policies and rules of this Board, including rules regarding attendance for those periods when they are not assigned to outside work projects or other classes.
First Reading: December 12, 2000
Adopted: December 19, 2000