School Board Hears Work-Based Learning Update

SNOW HILL — Work-Based Learning (WBL) programs in Worcester County were put under the spotlight at the November Board of Education with officials discussing the impact of the programs on students’ career readiness and how funding has evolved over the years.
WBL is divided into five categories: Employment Experience Programs, Work Study Programs, Internship Programs, Career Internship Programs, and Community Work Experience Programs. The diversity means that there’s a program to suit every student, according to Diane Stulz, Coordinator of Instruction.
“[Students] do a variety of things. Some of them are in careers that they’ve been working at in the technical high school,” she said. “Other students are just in something they may want to experience a little bit. We have students who go on to continue work in these places.”
Currently, WBL in Worcester has 153 students with 191 placements into a wide range of career paths.
“Atlantic General Hospital has been a big supporter of our program since their inception and many of their current employees actually started working through one of our programs, Stulz told the school board, “
Stulz, along with Career Internship Program Manager/Employment Coach Jeff Wooten, shared a number of direct student stories about WBL. With many of the first-hand accounts, Stulz noted that students are earning money through their employers while generating credits for school, the only exception being unpaid internships. There is even one program, Community Work Experience, which allows non-diploma students with special needs to participate in the workforce.
“In a lot of places in the community, students started working in one of these programs,” Stulz said. “It’s a very valuable experience, not only finding out what you want to do but finding out what you don’t want to do is just as important.”
For those who decide that they have found a field they want to explore, internships and career programs can often lead to funding for continued education.
“Some of them have earned scholarships through the employers that they’ve worked with,” said Stulz.
Even for those who don’t continue in their field there are still benefits to working part-time while staying on track in high school.
“Our employers in Worcester County last year funded about $175,000 to our students who were working in the businesses,” revealed Stulz.
Some employers offer more than just work placement. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) contributes both work opportunities in areas like Assateague Island and other state parks as well as funding for those students for food, uniforms and transportation. DNR funding has steadily grown over the years, too, from an initial $14,000 to over $25,000 last year.
Additional funding comes from the state General Assembly and has also been on the rise.
“The General Assembly gave us $11,000 this year. That’s normally about $3,000,” said Stulz, “so they’ve increased their funding for youth action programs.”
The partnership between the school system and the network of employers is critical for any of the programs to succeed, said Board member Douglas Dryden.
“I think it’s a wonderful way for our employers in Worcester County and business people in Worcester County to get to know our students and to get a handle on what we’re doing here in the school system,” he said. “It’s certainly a great experience for our students to get out into the work field and see what it’s like to run and operate a business. I think it’s a great partnership.”