Hennepin West Education Consortium Work-based Learning FAQ’s

Why engage in work-based learning?
Work-based learning programs, including youth apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship, provide opportunities for high school students to experience, and gain skills in a real work environment. Simultaneously, they give businesses a chance to inspire and develop a new generation of talent.

What schools are participating?
Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Lionsgate, Robbinsdale Cooper, Osseo, Robbinsdale Armstrong, Brooklyn Center, Hopkins, Park Center, St. Louis Park, and Wayzata.

Who are program students?
Students will be juniors and seniors with expressed interest in an industry aligned to an offered pathway. Students will have completed or currently be enrolled in related pathway courses at their high school or dual credit courses aligned to local post-secondary institutions. Students need to be at least 16 years old.

What are Employer Responsibilities?

• Participate in mentor training session and assign mentors to students
• Participate in mentor training session and assign mentors to students
• Interview and hire student(s) for work-based learning experience.
• Provide on the job training to student(s)
• Pay student(s) an hourly wage
• Participate in regular review, assessments and evaluations of students
• Ensure avg of 15 hours/ week
• Comply with employment of minors (a.k.a. child labor) laws - Students are considered Student Learners (see below).

Do students get paid and hired as employees?
Yes, Students are paid as part of the work-based learning experience and hired by the business as an employee. Students must complete the business application, interview and any
pre-employment screening process of the employer. As employees, students will need to comply with employer code of conduct and policies. Wages will begin in the $14-20/hour range and may include incentives for students earning industry credentials/ certificates.

When are students eligible to work and how many hours/week?
Students and businesses are expected to support a minimum of 10-15 hours per week. Student availability will vary slightly, but students will generally either work mornings (6:30-9:30 AM) or afternoons (1:00-5:00 PM) for an average of 12-15 hours/week. In some instances students may be able to work full days, work over school breaks or even continue over summer.

Who provides transportation for students?
It is the responsibility of the student/parent(s)/family to provide transportation to the classroom and the workplace.

What do we know about when working with students?
Students participating in program will be considered Student Learners. In order to be considered a student learner, students must meet the following criteria:

1. They are enrolled in a program approved by local school or education authority
2. They are enrolled in school and receiving school credit for program participation
3. They receive appropriate safety instruction at the school and at the workplace
4. The work performed is under direct and close supervision of a qualified and experienced person
5. The work performed in any occupation declared hazardous is incidental to their training and is for intermittent and short periods of time; and
6. There is a schedule of organized and progressive work processes to be performed on the job (i.e. the worksite is following the state work-based learning, youth apprenticeship orpre-apprenticeship guidelines and curriculum)

Agreement
All program participants will complete a Education Training Agreement
Agreement shall contain the name of student-learner, parent/guardian, and shall be signed by the employer and the school coordinator or principal.

Worker's Compensation
Workers’ compensation insurance is not only a statutory requirement in the state, it also helps provide protection for both your employees and your business in the event of a workplace accident. Rates for worker's compensation are based on a variety of factors - industry and job classification, location(s), percent of the wages paid by the employer, and experience modification factor (claims frequency). Age of employees is NOT a factor in determining rates.

Liability Insurance
Liability insurance is different from worker's compensation insurance in that liability insurance covers those individuals who are not employed by the business, but who may suffer injury or death while on the premises of the business. Students in the program would be employees of the business.

For more information, contact Russell Martiny, Partnership Development Director
rmartiny@gpsed.org  •  (414) 336-6859

Or contact Michelle Dreier, Director of Member Engagement & Government Affairs
mdreier@electricalassociation.com  •  (612) 827-6117