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POLICY STATEMENT

Work experience, which can include volunteer and/or community service, is a component of Graduation Transitions and is a graduation requirement in the 2004 Graduation Program. Boards of education and schools must address workplace safety for work experience.

RATIONALE

This policy describes the change in work experience required in the 2004 Graduation Program. Work experience and/or volunteer/community experience as a graduation requirement recognizes the importance of experiential learning and the importance of extending education beyond the classroom into the community. The term "work" is used in the broadest sense, and includes work experience at standard workplaces and volunteer work at community service agencies or other non-profit organizations. Schools and boards of education must follow procedures to ensure that students who participate in work experience are covered by the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB).

LEGISLATION/ REGULATIONS

See Ministerial Order 282/04, the Work Experience Order

POLICY

Work experience, including volunteer/community service, supports students in both their career development and their human and social development. This type of experiential learning increases the relevance of school by helping students connect what they learn in the classroom with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to be successful in both the workplace and larger community.

To fulfill the community connections component of Graduation Transitions, all students must provide evidence that they have completed any of the following: A Ministry-authorized work experience course, a school-arranged 30 hour work placement, 30 hours of volunteer or community service, or 30 hours of paid student employment.

As part of their Graduation Transitions evidence, students create a report that documents their work or volunteer/community service, and identifies the employability skills used or developed.

For school-arranged unpaid work placements or volunteer service arranged by the school, there must be a signed Work Experience Agreement form that includes all information stipulated in the Work Experience Order. A sample Work Experience Agreement Form is included as Appendix B in the Program Guide for Ministry-Authorized Work Experience Courses ( 315 KB PDF).

For school-arranged work placements, boards of education or independent school authorities ("boards/authorities") must establish guidelines respecting the conduct, supervision, evaluation, and participation of students in work experience placements.

WCB coverage is provided by the Provincial Government only to students who are 14 years of age or older and on a school-arranged and unpaid work placement. Students who apply to use paid employment to satisfy the work experience and/or community service requirement must show that they are, or were, working at a site where WCB coverage is, or was, provided.

PROCEDURES

To meet the minimum requirement for the work or volunteer/community service requirement of Graduation Transitions, the evidence must include an evaluation report, or signed form, from an employer or community agency/organization that describes the nature of the work or service performed, and lists the dates and hours worked. Students also report on tasks and duties performed and identify the employability skills used.

For school-arranged unpaid work placements or volunteer service outside the school, Work Experience Agreement forms must be completed and signed before the work activity begins. Each form must set out the terms of the work experience placement consistent with the board/authority guidelines, and must also include: Name of employer, location of the work site, and the period (by date and time) during which the student will be participating in the work placement.

For school-arranged unpaid work placements or school-arranged volunteer service, all accidents must be reported as soon as possible. A WCB injury report (Form 7) must be completed by the school district or independent school/authority/board and submitted within three days to WCB. A copy of this report and the Work Experience Agreement form must also be sent to the Ministry of Education.