FUSION Work-Based Learning Program Guidelines 

Are you interested in taking your education to the next level? Would you like to experience working in the career that you are preparing for? If so, then FUSION is for YOU!! 

FUSION is Christian County Public Schools’ (CCPS) work-based learning program. It encompasses all forms of work-based learning (WBL)--cooperative education (co-op), internships, and youth apprenticeships. 

FUSION Work-Based Learning Opportunities

The three WBL opportunities that FUSION offers to high school students are as follows: 

● Cooperative Education is a one-year course, designed to provide a senior student with the opportunity to obtain a minimum of 10 hours per week of supervised employment in addition to related classroom instruction. To accomplish this, the student will be responsible for meeting definite requirements. This is an individualized program designed by the instructor and the employer to ensure it reinforces and broadens the skills taught in the student’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway and it aligns to the student’s individual learning plan (ILP). Students who participate will receive a wage for these experiences, in accordance with local, state, and federal minimum wage requirements. 

● Internships are for students who have completed extensive school-based preparation relating to an identified area of career and academic interest in the ILP. Internships are combined with in-school instruction and give students opportunities to explore careers via workplace experiences. Students earn high school credit for internship participation. Most internships are short-term unpaid placements. 

● Youth Apprenticeship is a business- and industry-driven program to create a pipeline for students to enter postsecondary apprenticeship training. This program consists of in-school classroom training, as well as on-the-job training. Students will be notified of youth apprenticeship opportunities through their career pathway instructors as opportunities develop in the community. Students who participate will receive a salary, in accordance with local, state, and federal minimum wage requirements. 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federally funded program that serves CCPS seniors with educational and work placement assistance. Not only does the WIOA program collaborate with co-op, internships and youth apprenticeships, but it also assists students that have a desire to gain work experience after school and on weekends. If a student is WIOA eligible, the district workforce program specialist (Ms. Kelly Gates) will contact the student to assist them with their documentation, program requirements, and employment placement. 

FUSION Objectives: 

● Demonstrate and practice safe work habits at all times. 

● Gain career awareness and the opportunity to test career choice(s). 

● Receive work experience related to career interests. 

● Integrate classroom studies with work experience. 

● Receive exposure to facilities and equipment unavailable in a classroom setting. 

● Earn work experience and knowledge needed to successfully complete industry certification or end-of-program assessment (EOPA). 

● Increase employability potential:

• • • • Communication & Literacy: student demonstrates the ability to speak, listen, and write to function successfully in the workforce. 

      • Organize & Analyze Information: student gathers, organizes, and evaluates the meaning of work related documents and information. 

      • Problem Solve: student identifies problems, understands their context, and develops solutions. 

      • Use Technology: student identifies and applies appropriate technologies. 

      • Completion of Activities: student participates fully in a task or project from initiation to completion, using appropriate time-management skills. 

      • Be Professional: student meets workplace program expectations for attendance, punctuality, dress code, confidentiality, flexibility, self-control and meeting deadlines

      • Interaction with others: student works respectfully with a diversity of co-workers, supervisors, and customers, resolving conflicts in a constructive manner. 

      • Character: student displays loyalty, honesty, dependability, initiative, self-discipline, and self-responsibility. 

FUSION Requirements:

Please stay attentive for district and school announcements and communication outlets regarding ALL Work Based Learning processes and requirements beginning in January of the junior year. Communicating via school email throughout the school year and in the summer is MANDATORY to participate in WBL.  

Students enrolled in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a WBL activity. The decision to accept a student for WBL is based on the following: 

CTE skill level, academic grades, attendance and behavior records. Candidates not meeting the requirements and denied for WBL will have the option to submit an appeal for the requirements through the Board of Education. 

FUSION Eligibility Criteria*: 

• The student must be at least 16 years of age. 

• The student must have earned at least two (2) credits in the CTE pathway by the end of the junior year.

• A student in the cooperative education program shall be:

  •  Enrolled in a course included within the student's chosen career pathway within the same academic year, 

       OR

• •  A career pathway completer (4 courses) by the conclusion of the student’s junior year

• The student must have and maintain a 2.5 GPA. 

• The student must have and maintain acceptable conduct and attendance. 

  • • • • • There should be no more than 1 documented Step 4 or 5 behavior events during a student's junior year. 

          • There should be zero Step 6 or higher behavior events on the behavior records as a whole. 

          • No more than 3 unexcused absences during the junior year; or be on the CCPS Chronic Absentee Report. Student’s high school attendance record will be reviewed in its entirety. 

• The student must provide transportation. Students are not allowed to ride with other students. 

• The student must attend ALL scheduled WBL seminars and informational sessions.  The student must secure a job within the related career pathway by the Friday before the first day of  class the senior year. For example, a student in the Automotive Pathway could acquire a job at an automotive business. Morning co-op positions must be requested by the EMPLOYER and communicated to the WBL specialist PRIOR to the Friday before the first day of class the senior year.  

• The worksite must be within Christian County. Requests for a waiver will be reviewed on an individualized basis. 

• To avoid conflict of interest, family members cannot supervise or be in the same department as the WBL student. Students are not allowed to work in a business owned by their family. 

Students are encouraged to be actively involved in the program Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO), such as DECA. Educators Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, TSA, or SkillsUSA. 

*Youth Apprenticeships are business- and industry-driven; therefore, individual employers will develop their own criteria. Youth apprenticeship requirements may vary depending on employer needs and expectations. 

FUSION Application Procedures:

• Complete and submit the FUSION Google Participation Form by March 1 of the Junior Year. (For the 25-26 year:   The Google Form Link (below) goes live at 8:30 AM on Monday, February 5th.  It will close at 3:30 PM on Friday, March 7th 2025.)     

FUSION Student Responsibilities: 

• Attend the Fusion orientation seminars. Accepted candidates will be notified of dates, times and locations. 

• Secure appropriate employment by the Friday before the first day of the senior year. (Students are encouraged to begin seeking employment prior to the end of their Junior year.) 

• Inform the WBL specialist of your employment, so worksite approval and paperwork can be processed prior to beginning the WBL experience. This WILL require you to be in contact with the WBL specialist in the summer. Fusion paperwork must be processed and finalized before a student can be released from school to report to the worksite. Any paperwork not finalized will prevent a student from reporting to work on the first day of class. 

• Check email regularly, especially during the summer months. 

• Maintain all program requirements, including but not limited to the following: 

  • • • • • school and worksite attendance 

          • school and worksite behavior 

          • grades 

          • paperwork - This documentation is a requirement of the Fusion WBL Program and documentation of your WBL assignment. Failure to submit the documentation listed below will impact your grade and may jeopardize you earning the course credit(s) associated with the WBL course. 

            • • Copies of the following:  WBL agreement, driver’s license, release to leave school form, rules and regulations contract, medical insurance, car insurance, statement of understanding, and any additional forms required by CCPS. 

• Copies of all timesheets MUST be filed with the CCPS documentation system on a regular basis. Regular basis is defined by employer’s pay schedule-weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc. 

• For students in a paid placement, copies of all pay stubs MUST be filed with the CCPS documentation system on a regular basis. Regular basis is defined by employer’s pay schedule--weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc. 

• Copies of all evaluations MUST be submitted to the district WBL documentation system. 

• Contact the WBL specialist and employer, prior to your shift, if you must miss work for any reason. Plan ahead. 

• Adhere to employer rules and regulations. 

• Follow your school’s sign out procedure when leaving the school campus to report to the worksite. 

• Keep the WBL specialist informed of any changes to your WBL placement, such as supervisor, job duties, hours, wages, job performance and/or disciplinary meetings, etc. 

NOTE: 

Being involved in FUSION is a unique opportunity for prepared students to further their 21st Century Skills and Technical Skills. One component of FUSION is to require students seeking employment to conduct all of the required communications. At no time should a parent do the communicating with an employer or leaders of FUSION. Students are evaluated on their communication and follow-through skills. 

Please contact the district work-based learning program specialist with any questions:

Kelly L. Gates

Kelly.Gates@christian.kyschools.us

270-887-7000