While teachers and textbooks are irreplaceable pillars of a child’s education, practical experience can go a long way in preparing students for the workplace after graduation.

Thanks to a new program offered at Dowagiac Union High School, teenagers will have a chance to get a taste of the career path they wish to pursue, while earning credits for graduation in the process.

This fall, the high school will launch its new Work-Based Learning program, aimed at juniors and seniors. Students who enroll will be able to spend two to three hours of the school day working at the employer of their choice, while also learning skills and lessons that will assist them in the workplace, said coordinator Mike Williams, an instructor at Union High.

“We want to give students an opportunity to get a head start on their careers, regardless of what that career happens to be,” Williams said.

The WBL program will be similar to the school’s previous co-op program, which was phased out around 10 years ago due to the growing popularity of the school’s dual-enrollment program with Southwestern Michigan College. With the high school soon expanding to seven-period school days, the extended schedule will allow students to enroll in more electives, including a school-to-work program.

Unlike the previous co-op program, WBL is designed for all students, regardless of their plans after high school: be it entering the workforce, enrolling in trade school or studying in college, Williams said.

“It is not just a school-to-work program designed to get kids out of the building for a few hours,” Williams said. “It is a program to give students a head start in their career choice.”

Students will be required to secure a job related to the career path they want to take after graduation before they join the class in the fall, Williams said. Students may choose to either take paid or unpaid (i.e. job shadowing) positions with their employers.

After spending the first several classes meeting in the classroom to discuss proper workplace etiquette and communication skills, students will spend the period working at their jobs. Students will be required to work between 10 to 15 hours a week, for a maximum of 24 hours if they are under 18.

Students will be required to submit monthly logs of the hours they work, and must meet with the rest of the class once a month to discuss their experiences, Williams said. The coordinator will also be dropping by the students’ workplaces to see in person how they are faring, he said.

So far, around 30 students have signed up to participate in the fall, although the instructor said he only expects around 20 to actually make it into the class.

Williams has also reached out to many local businesses to ask for their cooperation with the program. While students must apply for jobs on their own, Williams hopes to have a list of businesses that are onboard with the WBL program that he can provide interested participants to help them with their searches.

“This is what Dowagiac is made of,” Williams said. “It is the perfect opportunity for businesses to give back.”

Businesses interested in participating in the program may contact Williams at mwilliams@dowagiacschools.org.