2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 17 - Education
Chapter 5 - Public Schools
§ 41c. Worker Preparation Educational Program
(a) This section may be cited as “The Worker Preparation Educational Program Act”.
(b) As used in this section
(1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Department of Education.
(2) “Cooperative education” means a structured method of instruction in work-related matters, including federal and local labor laws, designed for high school seniors to increase their knowledge of work and employment matters, develop and augment communication interpersonal, decision-making and lifelong learning skills needed for success in the job market and to provide learning experiences in employer-employee relations, team work, customer service, and work assignment responsibilities, as an integral part of the of the [sic] Labor Relations Worker Preparation components Worker Preparation Course under subsections (d) and (e).
(3) “Workforce preparation” means activities that are designed to prepare high school graduates for entry into the job market, including classroom exposure to core concepts in labor relations as well as more practical cooperative education arrangements administered as part of the component of the Labor Relations and the Worker Preparation components of the Worker Preparation Course established in subsections (d) and (e).
(c) Except as provided in subsection (i), the Commissioner shall establish and offer a semester-long, intensive course in worker preparation at participating high schools for students in the final semester of their senior year who do not intend to enter a post-secondary institution for at least one year after graduation from high school. The worker preparation course must combine instruction in core principles of labor relations with the practical, general job related skills.
(d) The Labor Relations component is taught for the first, nine-week marking period and a Worker Preparation component is taught for the second, nine-week marking period.
(e) The Labor Relations Component consists of a classroom-lecture format and includes without limitation the following subject matters:
(1) The history of labor unions and the history of collective bargaining; nationally as well as in the Virgin Islands;
(2) Workers rights; and responsibilities;
(3) An overview of the National Labor Relations Act; The Fair Labor Standards Act and the Virgin Islands labor statutes;
(4) Classes of employment discrimination, including sex, age discrimination, sexual harassment in the workplace, and all other classes of employment discrimination;
(5) Employee benefits, including retirement, workers compensation, health insurance, unemployment insurance, sick leave, family leave;
(6) Work hours, including over-time pay rules;
(7) Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) issues;
(8) The problems of working people and their relations with employers and co-workers;
(9) Termination of employment; wrongful discharge; and
(10) Such other subjects as the Commission determines appropriate.
(f) The Worker Preparation component of the course includes without limitation the following cooperative education and worker preparation activities:
(1) Communication skills, including learning how to speak so others can understand, listening actively, reading with understanding and observing critically;
(2) Interpersonal skills to include cooperating with others, learning teamwork strategies, resolving conflicts and negotiating;
(3) Decision-making skills, including learning to identify and analyze problems, evaluate solutions and problem solving;
(4) Lifelong learning skills, including developing clear thinking, self study and independent learning and using information and communication technology, time management;
(5) Developing a strong work ethic, competence and punctuality;
(6) Effective writing skills including English grammar and composition;
(7) Cover letter and resume writing;
(8) Use of the Public Employment Agency and Job Service and the Government Personnel Office;
(9) Job interviewing skills, including pre-interview preparation, proper dress, speech, mannerisms and overall demeanor; and
(10) Cooperative education arrangements whereby students attend field trips to real job settings in both the government and private sectors and other venues to and interact with employers and employees on relevant worker preparation topics and issues, have roundtable discussions with employers, employment recruiters and job counselors issues discussed during class and perform such other activities as may be assigned in class.
(g) To be eligible for the program a student must be a senior who upon graduation intends to enter the work force, who has applied for the program on forms provided by the Department of Education and meets such other criteria as the Commissioner determines.
(h) The Commissioner shall make arrangements with private-sector and government employers, job counselors, relevant governmental and private agencies and other persons and organizations to assist the Worker Preparation Educational Program in carrying out the purpose of this section.
(i) This section does not apply to high schools in the territory which are primarily college preparatory or academic schools. However, the Commissioner may develop a course for these schools as determined appropriate for their particular situation.
