Alternative high schools with career components

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Cyndi:

We have alternative schools here but none place the students in jobs. We 
have a summer youth employment program where the youth are placed in 
actual businesses for the summerafter a breif training with our staff 
where we introduce them to the real life basics of paychecks and business 
demands. We also have volunteers from the local colleges come in and talk 
about post secondary options. Businesses such as the local hospital come 
in and talk about on the job training opportunities and offer comparisons 
about the wage differences with the different types of training and 
educational attainments.  The best response we have had with locating 
businesses is finding small businesses that need additional staff but not 
necessarily full time staff. Since we pay the wages to the students and 
provide the workers comp insurance and they provide on the job mentoring 
it has been well accepted by local businesses and I have never had a 
problem with finding places for the kids to work. One place that always 
needs  help is local non profit agencies and after school or day care 
providers. 

Youth Build  offers some excellent models because they have programs 
nationally they provide work/education opportunities particularly for high 
school students at risk of dropping out. 

In regards to pay-  it can be done where the kids receive a stipend rather 
than wages so no taxes or social security is withheld. When it is 
considered a stipend rather than wages the amount is generally less and 
will not affect family circunstances regarding welfare or other assistance 
a low income family may receive. A stipend is usually an amount that will 
offset the cost of belonging to the program--covering the daily expenses 
and assisting with incentives to show up and stay in the program. Often 
times the stipend comes with established guidelines and rules. Good and 
appropriate behaviour is rewarded with additional payouts and unexcused 
absence, misbehaviour and lack of productive work will earn a reduction or 
loss of the stipend. Youth Build has books that can be ordered that are 
guidlines for their programs really help put into focus how to operate a 
program that incorporates education and career opportunities. 

The following is a starting point for youthbuild ....Youth Build is a HUD 
sponsored program and you can also get information at the HUD website. 
YouthBuild USA      Government Guide: 
http://www.governmentguide.com/ams/clickThruRedirect.adp?55076483,16920155,http://www.hud.gov/

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