Full year, all day program; 6-8 credits
Grade(s): 12 and post-graduate
The PEP Program provides a combination of office technology, paid or unpaid career internships, as well as occupational knowledge, and offers personal finance and social skills both at the Career Center, and the community at large. There are some academic courses that can be offered based on each student’s individual needs. A student’s week includes three to four-hour days at internship sites and may include exploration of non-SOL related academic course work. Supervision can be provided for some students at their internships, as students are expected to reach a certain level of independence with training.
PEP provides students with a combination of academic instruction paid and unpaid career exploration at internship sites throughout the community. A typical student’s schedule includes two full days of academic classes at the Career Center and three four-hour days at an internship site. Most students will explore two or three different careers during the school year. PEP students earn academic credits required for a high school diploma or certificate, as well as elective credits.
Prerequisite(s): The referral process must begin with the Transition Coordinator at the comprehensive high school. Besides having a current Individual Education Program (IEP), PEP students must be close to ending their home school academic experiences; be able to function independently or with only some assistance from staff; and be capable of taking public transportation independently or with minor assistance, after minimal training; and be able to function independently or with some assistance in the community at career internships. Student can be enrolled in CTE classes, provided they can independently, or with minor assistance, assimilate with the curriculum rigor required for each individual class, at the Career Center.