Mandatory Regulatory Procedures:
In order to provide students with aCareer and technical education CTE program, the Superintendent, or their his designee, shall establish and maintain career and technical instruction in dDistrict high schools and participate in a program of career development. [2][4][5][6][7][8]
The Superintendent, or their designee, shall ensure that all inform students and parents/guardians are informed, via publication and outreach (e.g., school visits, school visits to middle schools, print, online, school fairs, school selection, LeGare), of the students’ right to participate in Career and technical education CTE programs and courses and that eligible students with disabilities enrolled in such programs are entitled to services under state and federal laws and regulations. [5][6][8][9][10][11][12]
Career and technical education CTE programs shall consist of a series of planned academic and vocational technical education courses that are integrated into and articulated throughout the curriculum of dDistrict schools. [4][5][12][13][14]
Career and technical education CTE programs shall be aligned to industry- and state-based standards-based; prepare students for obtainment of licensure, or industry skills certification, and/or Pennsylvania Skills Certificate through successful completion of the NOCTI, as required; provide extended classroom experience; instruct students in safety practices and accident prevention; and meet minimum time requirements. [5][12][13][14][15]
Career and technical education courses must include content based upon occupational analysis, clearly stated performance objectives deemed critical to successful employment, and assessment of student competencies based upon performance standards. Student records shall include the results of the assessment of student competencies. [5][15]
In order to maintain state-approved CTE programming of Career and technical education, the Superintendent, or his their designees, shall:
- Approve the content, organization, and assessment standards of all
technical CTE courses. [5][16]
- Approve the placement of students in work-based learning programs and supervise the nature and conduct of their employment. [5][12]
[16][17][18]
- Operate programs in compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing
Career and technical education CTE. [5][12][13][19][20]
- Employ and supervise certified
dDistrict administrative and teaching staff teaching Career and technical education for CTE programs courses. Such personnel shall be responsible for keeping up with the certifications, technology, industry best practices and skills, and standards of their professional areas. [19][20][21][21][22][23]
- Provide
adequate industry-aligned facilities, equipment, and resource materials. [22][23][24][24][25]
- Establish appropriate local and occupational advisory committees to advise the Board
SRC, administration, and staff concerning the aspects of the Career and technical education CTE program delegated to each committee. The Board SRC delegates the responsibility to appoint members of the local and occupational advisory committees to the Superintendent or his their designees. A majority of the members of the occupational advisory committee shall be employees and employers in the occupation for which training is being provided by the dDistrict. [25][26][27][28][29]
Child Abuse Prevention Requirements
Employers who participate in dDistrict internship, externship, work study, co-op, or similar programs shall adopt policies and procedures that ensure compliance with the following procedures required by the Child Protective Services Law and administrative procedures to this policy, including but not limited to the following: [30][31][32][33][34]
- Identification of adult responsible for child’s welfare.
- Clearance certifications, including:
- PA Child Abuse History Clearance, which must be less than sixty (60) months old;
- PA State Police Criminal History Record Information, which must be less than sixty (60) months old; and
- Federal Criminal History Report, which must be less than sixty (60) months old.
- Arrest or conviction reporting requirements.
- Child abuse reporting.
Identification of Adult Responsible for Child’s Welfare
When a District student under the age of eighteen (18) years old participates in an internship, externship, work study, co-op, or similar program with an outside employer, the District and the employer shall, prior to commencing participation, identify an adult(s) who will be the student’s supervisor while the child participates in the program. The identified adult(s) will be the person responsible for the child’s welfare. [29][30]
The identified adult(s) shall be in the immediate vicinity of the child at regular intervals during the program. Immediate vicinity shall mean an area in which an individual is physically present with a child and can see, hear, direct, and assess the activities of the child. [29][30]
Certifications
Prior to commencement of the program, the identified adult shall submit the following information to the Superintendent or designee: [30]
PA Child Abuse History Clearance - which must be less than sixty (60) months old.PA State Police Criminal History Record Information - which must be less than sixty (60) months old.Federal Criminal History Report - which must be less than sixty (60) months old.Disclosure Statement – which is a statement swearing or affirming applicant has not been disqualified from service by reason of conviction of designated criminal offenses or being listed as the perpetrator in a founded report of child abuse. [31]
The Superintendent or designee shall review the information and determine if information is disclosed that precludes identification of the adult as the supervisor responsible for the child’s welfare.
Information submitted by an identified adult in accordance with this policy shall be maintained centrally in a manner similar to that for school employees.
Arrest or Conviction Reporting Requirements
An identified adult shall notify the employer, in writing, within seventy-two (72) hours of the occurrence, of an arrest or conviction required to be reported by law. [31]
An identified adult shall also report to the employer, within seventy-two (72) hours of notification, that s/he have been listed as a perpetrator in the Statewide database, in accordance with the Child Protective Services Law. [31]
Failure to accurately report such occurrences may subject the identified adult to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment and criminal prosecution. [31]
The employer shall immediately require an identified adult to submit new certifications when there is a reasonable belief that the identified adult was arrested for or has been convicted of an offense required to be reported by law, was named as a perpetrator in a founded or indicated report, or has provided written notice of such occurrence. [31]
If the employer receives notice of such occurrences from either the adult or a third party, the employer shall immediately report that information to the Superintendent or designee in writing. [31]
Child Abuse Reporting
Identified adults who have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is the victim of child abuse shall make a report of suspected child abuse in accordance with the Child Protective Services Law. [32][33]