Career Education / Transition

Our Career Education/Transition Curriculum has four primary objectives for students in their Middler through Senior High School years:

1. To encourage independence as each student accepts increasing levels of responsibility.
2. To develop career awareness beginning with an assessment of interests and skills which can be adapted to jobs.
3. Creation and implementation of school-to-work based learning plans.
4. Actual transition planning where the basic skill competencies for post-high school education and employment are being analyzed and evaluated throughout the year.

The students and staff evaluate personal preferences, vocational options, social and emotional learning styles and goals. They then look at research agencies and colleges or training programs which can foster success in the post-high school years.

Work Study

Prior to graduation, High School students participate in the Work/Study Program. The goal of the program is to provide practical on-the-job experiences so students can develop a positive attitude toward work as well as positive work behaviors.

When making job placements, many factors are considered and each case is reviewed individually by a "Transition Committee" composed of representatives from the Academic, Vocational, O.T., and Counseling departments. A decision is made to place a student at a job site on a continuum ranging from on-campus supervised work to competitive employment in the community.

Some students require short-term support from an LPS Job Counselor, who ensures a proper working environment and maintains ongoing communication with the on-site supervisors (including obtaining written evaluations three times a year). A student's performance on-the-job is also discussed at school with the Job Counselors.

Individual job-related problem solving is done with the Job Counselors, a student's School Counselor, and the Transition Coordinator. Career Education classes afford all Work/Study students the opportunity to share experiences and learn work-related skills.

The LPS Work/Study Program operates on an alternating school and work week basis. Students are expected to work a minimum of 25 hours during work week and complete independent homework assignments from their academic teachers, as well as maintain a journal documenting their weekly work experiences.

Some of the employers who have provided job placements for LPS student workers are:

• McDonald's
• Frugal Fannie's
• Star Market
• Boston University
• Boston Recycle Center
• Animal Shelter
• Medfield State Hospital
• Cumberland Farms
• YMCA
• Registry of Deeds
• Staples
• Head Start

Middler Screening – Information for Parents

As a Middler, your child is starting to get information about the Work/Study program that begins in the Junior year. The Learning Prep Work/Study Program is comprised of one or two years in which students obtain a work experience for one week and attend school for the alternating week. Some students work close to campus and some may work in their community. Also, some students have an internship, while others may be ready for a competitive, paid position. Each student is assigned to a Job Counselor who will supervise the student’s work experience. The amount of supervision varies depending on the need of the student worker. The goal of the program is for students to gain necessary work skills, to develop a “worker personality”, and to gain greater independence, not necessarily to develop careers. The students alternate between one week in school and one week in a work experience for both the Junior and Senior years. The Transition Work/Study Committee is beginning the screening process to determine each student’s readiness for the program. The screening process is conducted to gain information from staff who works with each student. Your input is essential to this process. The three general objectives that are looked at are: the ability for the student to work independently, the ability for the student to remain focused on tasks, and the ability for the student to exhibit self control. There are also other skills and behaviors that are assessed in the screening process.

Each Middler will have a job counselor who will; meet with the student during the month of March, speak with parents to discuss the Middler Screening as well as answer any questions about Work/Study. Once all the Screening input is coordinated by the Work/Study staff, parents will receive a letter explaining what level of job coaching the department has determined would be appropriate for the student. During the latter part of the third term, job counselors and Middlers will begin planning job searches.

For additional information, please contact Erin Campbell at ecampbell@learningprep.org or Tara Howe at thowe@learningprep.org.

To download the Middler Screening Checklist, click here.