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Students and Parents
Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Work-Based Learning Programs (co-op, internship, and apprenticeship) allow juniors and seniors the opportunity to obtain experience and skills in a workplace setting. They offer students a unique opportunity to prepare for future educational and career goals while in high school. Any work-based learning program is an elective course, and students are issued 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 Carnegie units per semester based on the individual student’s registered course, assessed performance and work release time. This program was developed as a result of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act insuring a well-educated and highly-skilled workforce.
Work-Based Learning students receive support from four sources:
- A work-site mentor/employer
- The local school Faculty and/or Community-Based Advisory Committee
- The local school Work-Based Learning Coordinator
- The Gwinnett County Public Schools Work-Based Learning Coordinator
A Work-Based Learning Program:
- Connects student learning more directly to the world of work through on-the-job training
- Provides high-quality, work-based experiences for students
- Assigns each student in the program to an employer whose job opportunity matches as closely as possible to the student’s academic and career goals
- Enhances the educational foundation and career preparation students will need to succeed as adults
- Cultivates the knowledge and skills of students to help them become business leaders for our economic future
Types of Work-Based Programs Offered
Cooperative Education (Grades 11-12)
Students participate in a structured program that connects school-based occupational instruction with related worksite experiences for pay. Co-op students are guided by a formal, written training agreement that defines specific academic and workplace skills to be mastered. Students must be simultaneously enrolled in a Technical Education course that is directly related to the job placement.
Internship (Grades 11-12)
Students participate in a structured program that connects school-based occupational instruction with related paid or unpaid worksite experiences. Internships occur only after the completion of coursework related to the placement.
Youth Apprenticeship (Grades 11-12)
Students will practice key roles in a workplace setting in which a school-site mentor and a worksite mentor help a student explore a career of interest that has been supported by academic coursework. This program is designed for students who plan to continue their education at a postsecondary institution. The recommendation and expectation is that students will complete a total of 2,000 hours of work during their high school and postsecondary education in their chosen career field to complete the apprenticeship program. |
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