Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Career Training Jobcorps topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Job Corps representatives brief Octorara board on co‑enrollment option for students
Summary
Job Corps officials described on‑campus residential programs, trade training options and a co‑enrollment agreement that would let Octorara accept Job Corps transcripts under Pennsylvania Act 158 so students would not be recorded as dropouts.
Representatives from Job Corps described the federal program’s residential training campuses, trade offerings and a proposed co‑enrollment partnership that would allow Octorara students to remain enrolled in the district while attending Job Corps.
Jill Payne and Fred Jesse of Job Corps said Job Corps is a federally funded program for students ages 16–24 that provides academic instruction and trade training. Payne said two regional residential centers likely to serve Octorara students are Keystone (near Hazleton, Luzerne County) and Red Rock (in Sullivan County). They said centers offer trades including construction (plumbing, electrical, carpentry), culinary arts, automotive and health‑care related programs; instructors are trade professionals and unions support several construction programs.
Payne told the board Job Corps students live on campus, follow a structured daily schedule, are drug‑tested and take part in career transition readiness instruction, mock interviews and job‑placement services; Job Corps staff attempt to provide post‑placement follow‑up for a year after a student leaves the center. She described community service and experiential learning examples and said some graduates earn substantial starting wages in construction and trades.
Job Corps representatives said they negotiated a co‑enrollment partnership so students would remain on the district rolls and not be counted as dropouts: the district would accept Job Corps transcripts and certificates under Pennsylvania Act 158 (second and third pathway) and award a diploma when the student completes the Job Corps program. Payne said the program is free to qualifying students (those who receive free/reduced lunch, are homeless or have an IEP) and that a district partnership agreement would be required to enable co‑enrollment and credit acceptance.
Board members asked about student visits and logistic concerns; Job Corps representatives said districts can organize visits and the centers accept busloads of students for tours. The board did not vote on the partnership; staff said a formal agreement would be brought for signature when the district chooses to proceed.
