TPP students are eligible for extended hours of work experience funded by the Department of Rehabilitation. 

For the 2025-25 school year, DOR has changed the maximum number of work experience hours that can be approved for TPP students statewide:

• Seniors and 18-22 students who had placements projected this year: Up to 120 hours of DOR-funded work experience

• Juniors: Up to 60 hours of DOR-funded work experience

📝 TPP students who have been referred and officially intaken are eligible for DOR work experience hours. Hours are available only after the DOR request form has been submitted by the WA/TPP teacher to the student’s DOR counselor, approved, and authorization is in hand. Download the revised request form on this webpage.

(DOR is implementing a new 120-hour limit over the life of the TPP student case, but honoring MCOE projected placements for seniors at 120 hours for this year only. We will transition to a model of 60 hours for seniors / 60 hours for juniors in the 2026-27 FY. This is a temporary restriction due to the status of federal funding.)

Put in your requests before your student reaches their 30 hours funded by WorkAbility.

Step 1:   The WA Teacher/TPP Vocational Services Coordinator (VSC) for each site completes this request form for each student upon entering a paid work experience placement to secure funding for hours; "Authorization dates needed" should reflect the student's placement start date through June 30.

Step 2:   The WA Teacher/TPP VSC will email the request directly to the DoR Service Coordinator and cc Teresa Erickson at terickson@mcoe.us.

• • Email requests to: Elizabeth Apiz, eapis@dor.ca.gov, if you work with: 

    • Dina Fernandez (Ukiah HS CER/TSP, Ukiah HS Bridge, CTP, MCOE Orr Creek)

    • Oscar Mendoza (Ukiah HS Resource, South Valley HS, MCOE Community School)

    • Mark Mirata (Ukiah HS Resource)

    • Jane Bermudez (Coast)

  • Email requests to: Patty Fallahee, pfallahe@dor.ca.gov if you work with:

    • Dana Eads (Willits HS, Willits Charter, Laytonville HS)

    • Erin Fitzpatrick (Anderson Valley HS, Potter Valley HS, Round Valley HS, Leggett HS, Charter Academy of the Redwoods) 

Step 3:   DOR will approve the student's hours with an authorization effective from the date of receipt, and send it to Teresa Erickson at SELPA, who will forward on to you for your WA/TPP student file. The "service date" on the authorization is the earliest date the hours can be utilized.

DOR COUNSELOR COVERAGE:

Ryan Estevo: ryan.estevo@dor.ca.gov   (707) 463-6804 

Works with TPP Specialists and school sites served by:

●      Jane Bermudez

●      Oscar Mendoza

Pon Tran: vilayphone.tran@dor.ca.gov   (707) 463-6805 

Works with TPP Specialists and school sites served by:

●      Mark Mirata

●      Dina Fernandez

Paul Boice: Paul.Boice@dor.ca.gov   (707) 463-6806 

Works with TPP Specialists and school sites served by:

●      Dana Eads

●      Erin Fitzpatrick

Important Reminders

• Plan ahead to avoid funding gaps or interruptions in placement between WorkAbility and TPP hours. WorkAbility funding covers the first 30 hours of the student’s placement, and is limited to an approved number of placements per school site based on the WA Teacher's request for the current year, site budget utilization in past years, and the current budget available. A DOR Authorization Request for Work Experience Form must be submitted and approved before any DOR-funded hours can be used. To avoid delays, submit the DOR authorization request to DOR at the same time you submit the Work Experience Application to SELPA (cc Teresa Erickson at SELPA). Keep copies of all authorizations and work experience applications on file.

• Start TPP Referrals Early! Coordinate TPP referrals with your site’s TPP Specialist and DOR counselor to ensure smooth authorization and maximize student work experience opportunities. Students can be referred starting their spring semester of their sophomore year. Refer those juniors so they can work!