WARDEN — The Warden School Board approved the credit offerings for a new state mandated Work Based Learning program, to be instituted at the Warden High School during the upcoming semester, during its regular board meeting Thursday.

Warden High School Principal Katie Phipps presented the WBL program and asked for action regarding the maximum credits Warden High students can receive through the program throughout their time at the high school.

“Work Based Learning is something that the state has asked us to set into place,” said Phipps. “What we're finding is that kiddos, when they graduate they don't have those soft skills that employers are needing; showing up on time, dressing appropriately, just those basic skills, like counting money. And so, one of the things the state has put into place is to have students earn elective credit.”

According to information from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the program connects Career and Technical Education courses with job experience where students can use what they learn in a practical setting. WBL is an umbrella term for various activities that provide real-life experience, including Work Site Learning, which gives students credit for job experience and related coursework. Warden is instituting elective credits for job experience through the WBL program.

Students who enroll for elective credits have to work somewhere that issues an official pay stub, not informal or under-the-table employment, said Phipps. OSPI’s informational document states that 180 work hours are equal to one credit hour.

Phipps said that most of the schools she knows of offer up to two credits per year, and that her understanding is that the state caps the total throughout a student’s high school career at four credits.

“It's a little bit like, previously, work release – you might be more familiar with that,” said Phipps. “But this is actually for credit because they're going to be learning those skills. They have to work with a supervisor here at school. It is becoming a state requirement from OSPI.”

Phipps said she sent out a survey on the program to students over the summer but has not received many responses yet, which she said was likely due to students not checking their email during their break.

“I can tell you from our seniors last year, it would have made a difference for a good five of them for actual graduation, credit-wise. And then I can probably tell you from last year's seniors, probably about 10 of them would have loved to have done it, but I don't have a solid number for you because school hasn't started yet,” said Phipps.

Phipps then outlined how impactful the program might be for students at the WHS who might enroll in the program, saying she thought it would be a great opportunity even if most students don’t take advantage of it.

“Quite frankly, I think we should offer up to four but I don't think most students are going to use it,” said Phipps. “Some might; we have a lot of students that have fallen credit deficient and part of it is because they are working. We've had students before in the past that will work until midnight and then they'll come to school the next day, and it really is kind of taxing on them.”

Phipps said she did not have enough information yet to confirm whether the WBL program would be offered over the summer. The board then voted unanimously to approve the program for a maximum of two elective credits per year for students, and up to four total over their high school career.

Other actions at the meeting included accepting the only bid from milk providers for the year at a total cost of approximately $8,000 more than the previous year.

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. Download the Columbia Basin Herald app on iOS and Android.