Workforce Prep Academy (WPA - 644 South Locust)

Workforce Prep Academy serves GISH students who have qualified for special education and have an IEP currently in place. Students typically acquire academic information at a moderately slow pace and may be significantly disconnected and disengaged from the school setting. The mission is to create a system of education and employment experiences that will enable young people to attain the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace of tomorrow and transition smoothly from their education to their career.

Criteria for WPA:

• Student must have an IEP
• Students typically acquire academic information at a moderately slow pace and may be significantly disconnected and disengaged from the school setting.
• Recommendations from IEP Team/SE Coordinator

Workforce Prep Academy provides students with the following:

• Work-Based Learning - is a dynamic education program that provides students a meaningful experience in the workplace while still in high school. Work-based learning bridges between the classroom and the community to create experiences that maximize student interest, motivation, creativity, and effort.
• Career Awareness - focuses on group activities that help students develop a general
  awareness of themselves, the world of work and its connection to education.
• Career Exploration - provides an opportunity for individual examination of career options that match a student’s interests and aptitudes. Students learn what people do for a living and observe and interact with work based staff to learn about the demands of the workplace.
• Career Preparation - Activities that integrate academic and occupational skills learned in the classroom with skills learned on the job. Emphasis is on skill building, learning to work as a team member, establishing relationships, ethics and honesty and relating personal interests and abilities to real world career opportunities.
• Career Applications - competency-based educational experiences that occur at the workplace. These experiences provide students with opportunities to apply their skills learned to actual work experiences.

Specific Programs at the Workforce Prep Academy:

• Workforce Prep Academy - Students who have completed their HS credits and need additional experience in the 5 areas listed above. Students receive instruction from a certified Special Education teacher and 5 Worksite trainers. This also includes “Islander Express” (GIPS Coffee Shop).
  • 20 students accepted at one time (Cap at 30)
  • Students can have a split schedule with GISH which includes their Academy pathway classes.
• Workforce Prep Academy/GISH Online - Students who are in need of credit recovery and need a small learning environment. Students attend either a morning or afternoon session. Academics are paired with instruction in the 5 areas listed above. Students are supported by a certified SE Teacher and qualified Worksite trainers. Students can earn credits to graduate early.
  • 20 students accepted at one time (Cap at 30)
• Workforce Prep Academy/Virtual - Students who are learning from home with the support of a certified SE teacher. Instruction will also include opportunities to transition to the WPA building and instruction in the 5 areas listed above which includes work experience.
  • 20 students accepted at one time (Cap at 30)

Students will receive a diploma from GIPS and may participate in GISH graduation. Individual plans will be created to ensure college and career ready students. Students are given the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities at their home schools as this is a federal requirement for all students with disabilities.