10. Key Features / Content

  • Innovative
  • Effective
  • Promising
 Please describe the main features of the program, focusing in particular on those aspects that are particularly innovative, effective or promising.

360 hours of outcome-based instruction and 360 hours of paid work experience. Instruction is delivered evenings, weekends and summers. Work experience over summer months of gr. 10, 11, 12. Students are screened for interests and aptitude and apply for posted job descriptions. Students complete letters, resumes and interviews for jobs – employers make the selections.

Phase 1: those hired begin with a 4-day intensive residential workshop in summer after gr. 10. and then start work. Learning continues throughout the school year: New Brunswick economy, communication skills, workplace health and safety, CPR training, interpersonal skills workplace computing applications and business/technical writing.

Phase 2: Start with a workshop after gr. 11, continue at the workplace and finish in spring of gr. 12. 2/3 time on academic, personal management and teamwork skills; 1/3 time is on occupational/career specific skills. Phase 3: Starts with a weekend workshop in May of gr. 12. Students work following graduation. 1/3 time building generic employability skills and communications applications. 2/3 time is occupational/career specific skills.

Phase 4: Students enter the workforce or postsecondary training/education. They are guaranteed spots in the NB Community College and have preferred admission to the two NB universities.

It’s innovative because it’s outside school hours, students in every academic area can participate, not just technical students. It provides a school-to-work transition for those who go straight to work. Provides PSE students with means to finance education and either guaranteed or preferred admission to NB PSE.
11. Funding Mechanisms Please describe the type of funding mechanism used for this initiative (e.g. provider’s own budget, service contract, grant, co-funding etc.)

Dept. of Education provides funding to Districts to operate the program. Some Districts have locally developed partnerships that increase the amount of funding to allow for more developed programs.