Vocational and Career Planning
One of the greatest benefits of Personalized Learning is that students can plan their high school course sequence to match their long term goals. Students interested in working in the trades or entering the workforce after high school need not wait until after graduation to gain needed skills. They can start in high school!
Work Experience:
Student wishing to gain work experience while in high school can take our Employment Skills (PDF) elective. This course couples work experience with academic projects. A student under the age of 18 must have a valid Work Permit in order to work at any time. The work permit expires when a student leaves, quits, or is fired from a job. A new permit must be requested with each new job, at the beginning of each school year, or when school of attendance changes. A work permit is no longer required once a student turns 18.
The following documents may be downloaded and sent to the school as indicated:
Work Permit Application PDF
Work Permit Guidelines PDF
Work Permit Cover Letter PDF
- Download the Work Permit Application, Work Permit Guidelines and Work Permit Cover Letter
- Complete the section on the application entitled “For Minor to Complete”
- Have employer complete the section entitled “For Employer to Complete”
- Have parent complete the section entitled “For Parent to Complete”
- Mail or fax the forms per the instructions on the cover letter
To view PDF documents, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat plugin. You can download the free plugin from the Adobe website by clicking on the icon.
Regional Occupational Training Programs (ROP)
Students wishing to learn a trade while in high school can take our ROP (PDF) elective course. Regional Occupational Programs (ROP) offer tuition-free career preparation training through various locations within a given county. ROP classes are open to anyone 16 years of age or older. Through partnerships with school districts, state and local governments, community organizations, and business and local industry, ROP provides course work in a wide array of current and emerging career fields. The classes are structured to provide classroom as well as hands on training and many provide a career development component.
http://www.dds.cahwnet.gov/DSPT/DSPT_list.cfm : A Directory of Regional Occupational Centers and Programs by county
http://www.carocp.org/carocps.html : Additional resource for locating ROP programs
Career Planning Resources:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/home.htm : Students can begin learning about different careers by looking through the Career Guide to Industries. This guide lists careers by category, gives a general overview including salary, job outlook, and training requirements.
http://www.bridges.com/us/prodnserv/educareerplan_hs.html : Online career exploration program
http://www.eastbayworks.com/categories.php?id=4 : One Stop Centers in the East Bay
www.CareerVoyages.gov : a website geared towards students, parents, and counselors to explore high growth, high wage careers
www.CareerOneStop.org : Comprehensive website to identify education, financial aid, career options, and jobs
www.careersonline.com : Provides interest and abilities activities, resume generator, interview preparation, advice and help in choosing a career that suits you
www.act.org/discover : Features research-based career assessments and detailed information that help people make important career and education decisions.
Vocational Training Resources:
http://www.calapprenticeship.org : Information on apprenticeship programs throughout California
http://www.search4college.com : Search for Vocational Schools in California
http://jobcorps.dol.gov/about.htm : Job Corps is a no-cost education and vocational training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 get a better job, make more money, and take control of their lives. At Job Corps, students enroll to learn a trade, earn a high school diploma or GED and get help finding a good job. When you join the program, you will be paid a monthly allowance; the longer you stay with the program, the more your allowance will be. Job Corps provides career counseling and transition support to its students for up to 12 months after they graduate from the program.
California Community colleges offer many vocational programs. Consult your local college for more information.
