CCSD updates work-based learning application after legislative changes

The Carson City School Board received an update last week on its work-based learning program and approved a renewal application as part of its strategy to strengthen its career and technical education program for students.

Renewal applications are submitted to the Nevada Department of Education every five years. Districts are required to list protocols and practices for work-based programs, including training opportunities, career exploration options for students, academic alignment and the manner in which districts partner with community employers. Applications must describe how programs meet any new Nevada Revised Statute requirements after changes from the most recent legislative session.

Carson City’s application previously was authorized by the board on Nov. 8, 2022, but it was recently sent back when changes were made after the Nevada Legislature ended in June. All school districts were directed to resubmit their applications.

Candi Robles, CTE and WBL coordinator and Fine Arts department chairman of Carson High School, said the district’s WBL continuum has three platforms recommended for targeted grade levels to address student needs and encourage career interests at particular age groups. Career exploration for grades four through nine provides career fairs, guest speakers and industry tours begins helping students learn about the world of work earlier in life.

“We really need students to be in the mindset early that they will work,” Robles said. “And happy people work in happy jobs. A statistic we heard in (Northern Nevada Development Authority) one day with (Superintendent Andrew Feuling) is that there’s a huge percentage of people in the state of Nevada who are underemployed. They are not working up to their potential.”

Robles said part of the school district’s job is to align students with careers and place them on career paths so that as they finish school, “the Sunday after graduation, they know where they’re going or at least where they’re not going.”

Several of the changes resulting from this year’s legislative session that caused WBL applications to be returned to school districts were Assembly Bills 65 and 207, Robles said. AB65 requires all districts to submit an approved application by the school board to the Nevada superintendent of public instruction. AB207 provides districts an opportunity to purchase liability insurance for students participating in the WBL program but does not allow districts to charge for it. However, CCSD is a member of POOL/PACT, the Nevada public agency insurance pool, so it already meets this requirement, she said.

Going on, Robles said AB256 clears up a requirement for student supervision and background checks in which the direct supervisor of a student in a WBL experience must have a background check. Robles said she is working with district risk manager Ann Cyr to use its Raptor volunteer system and obtaining grants to cover the $25 fee for these checks. The bill, AB256, also requires students participating in 30 hours or more of WBL to complete training on identifying and reporting on harassment in the workplace, developing and maintaining healthy relationships and identifying signs of predatory behaviors, and Robles said there are courses of training available already in PoolPact students can take and teachers can use to meet the requirements.

Trustee Lupe Ramirez said she couldn’t believe career exploration and readiness began as young as the fourth grade and thanked Robles and staff members for setting students up for success so early.

Robles responded job skill instruction at the younger levels helps students understand why academic concepts are easier to grasp in the classroom.

“It’s a little easier with CTE (career and technical education) students, but I think for students, in general, the opportunity to do career exploration and career readiness and career preparation helps make their instruction, what they’re learning, relevant,” she said. “‘Why am I taking math? Why am I building a parabola?’ ‘Well, because you might want to build a roller coaster one day.’”