MCPS is committed to helping students gain work experience with employers before they leave high school. We provide a range of work-based learning experiences that are available to all students.

Work Based learning in MCPS is any employment experience paid or unpaid that results in HS credit or CTE program completion. Work Based Learning includes:

• Apprenticeship

• Internship

• CTE Program internships

• Site-Based Work Experience

MCPS grade 11 and 12 students can gain work-based learning experiences through apprenticeships and internships.

Apprenticeships offer students the opportunity to work for an employer earning at least minimum wage and gaining in-demand job skills that often lead to a full time job with education benefits after graduation.

Internships offer students the opportunity to work in a paid or unpaid experience. Internships are authentic work experiences that build professionalism skills. Internships are a great way to explore careers, build a resume and gain valuable new skills.

The student just wants to work and doesn’t want credit?

MCPS is transitioning away from abbreviated schedules and focusing attention on supporting students with accessing Work Based Learning experiences that lead to future career advancement. Also, if students are leaving the school building during the school day for an experience we must document their time accurately for safety reasons. Internship and Apprenticeship is now advanced level, so students have an incentive to get credit for their work.

Can we open a section of internship with special designation?

The only sections that should be used for Internship, Apprenticeship and Site Based Work Experience are those listed in the MCPS High School Course Bulletin. MCPS WBL enrollment and participation is communicated to MSDE annually and special designations are not recognized by MSDE. Therefore it will be important to use the correct WBL codes that MSDE recognizes. 

How should in school teacher assistant programs work to fit into the internship codes?

Any non-credit opportunity like teacher aid should be used on a limited basis. MCPS encourages you to transition to using the Internship elective codes and have the Internship Coordinator work with the students and teachers to shift the opportunity into an Internship experience.

• MCPS WBL Page

• MSDE: Blueprint Pillar 3: College and Career Readiness

• Pathways vs. Program of Study

MCPS Work Based Learning Team

• Shawn Krasa, Supervisor, Work Based Learning

• Gwen Filipiak, Instructional Specialist, Work Based Learning

• Andrea Buckley, Instructional Specialist, College & Career Readiness