1. Traci Hogan, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Services
What will It mean for the Up
Traci Hogan, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Services

2. Employability Credential
Students with disabilities for whom an IEP team has determined mastery of career-based educational program is the most appropriate way to demonstrate skills and provide FAPE.
Academic competencies
Independent work experience
Daily living skills competencies
Self-determination skills competencies
Beginning no earlier than the end of the student’s eighth grade year
IEP updated annually

3. Employability Credential
IEP team must identify this EC as the student’s expected outcome and inform the parent annually, in writing, that EC is not a diploma.
The team’s decision must be based on data, to include, but not be limited longitudinal information of student grades, standardized achievement assessments, informal and formal transition assessments, adaptive behavior assessments, an work readiness assessment.
The decision must be made only after an IEP team considers a continuum of program options that may allow a student to obtain a standard diploma.

4. State Employability Credential Definitions
Employability Credential - state recognized certificate which demonstrates that a student has completed requirements indicating that a student has developed skill and knowledge to prepare him/her for postsecondary employment and/or education as well as community-based living, as appropriate
Work-based learning/training - paid or unpaid opportunity to develop work skills, work expectation, and work behaviors. Can occur in a school and/or a community setting

5. State Employability Credential Definitions
Competitive Employment - 34 C.F.R. Section (b)(11)
In a competitive labor market that is performed on a full-time or part-time bases in an integrated setting that consists of individual who are not disabled that are in comparable positions as the individual with a disability
AND
For which an individual is compensated at or above the minimum wage, but not lets than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for he same or similar work performed by the individuals who are not disabled

6. State Employability Credential Definitions
Employability education - instruction, services, and supports that will prepare the student to attain a job after completion of the Employability Credential. Encompasses
Career exploration
Vocational education
Functional skill development needed for the work place
Focus on job-readiness skills
May include Career and Technical Education programs & services
Readiness assessment Work - formal assessment (norm references or criterion referenced) that measures a student’s skills set in relation to skills that are necessary for competitive employment in the community

7. Employability Credential Course Requirements
24 credits
4 English
4 Math
2 Science
2 Social Studies
1 Health/PE or equivalent
1 Technology course
4 Employability Education
6 Electives (including work experience)
Adhere to the attendance policy

8. Employability Credential Work Based Requirements
Complete a career portfolio that includes a multimedia presentation project
Obtain work readiness assessment results that demonstrate the student is ready for competitive employment
360 Hours of Work Based Learning/Training Experience
School-based, community based, and/or paid/unpaid
Must alight to student interest, preference, and post-secondary goals/IGP
Paid employment must be minimum wage or above

9. Employability Credential
Who is this student?
What are the possibilities?
Stephen’s story with Greenville County Schools

10. Ten at the Top
16 of 23 school districts reported having some type of program
All counties were different
No planned articulation/connectivity with community college programming