By Richard Caines

SALISBURY — This summer a group of special education students in Wicomico County will have the opportunity to learn job skills that could lead to a career.

The initiative is the Summer Youth Employment Program by Wicomico County Public Schools, sponsored through a partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education – Division of Rehabilitative Services.

Director of Special Education Kevin Smith said during a June 11 school board meeting that the initiative is a three-year partnership designed for students with a diagnosed disability.

“This is an opportunity to gain pre-employment skills, making them more viable candidates for future jobs and professions, but it’s also to provide students with paid employment for five weeks during the summer with local businesses, agencies and governmental bodies based on each student’s interests,” Smith said.

Smith said participating students are nominated by special education teachers and selected by a committee. He said that the majority of the program is comprised of 11th-grade students and rising 11th-grade students, but there are also certificate students ages 18 to 21 who were slated to receive either a high school diploma or a Maryland Certificate of Program Completion.

Up to 25 students will be in this summer’s program, Smith said.

“Students will receive job coaching by eight Wicomico County Public Schools special education teachers to support their needs in learning, maintaining their academic progress and also maintaining employment within the community,” Smith said.

Smith told the school board that some of the employers include the Maryland Food Bank, The Grocery Outlet, Habitat for Humanity, Coastal Comfort, the city of Salisbury’s Infrastructure & Development department, K&L Microwave and others.

“This is a very exciting opportunity because we are able to use local employers who volunteer to support our students and to give them those job-embedded skills,” Smith said.

Smith said the five-week internship includes 25 hours of paid employment and the school system provides transportation to and from each job site for the students who need it.

At the conclusion of the summer program, the employers and agencies are invited to a luncheon where each student is celebrated and can personally thank their employer for the experience.

Vice Chairman Allen C. Brown asked Smith if the paid internships could result in a career for the student.

“This is our goal,” Smith said. “In some instances that has happened where the employer is very pleased with the work ethic of the individual. It’s an opportunity for them to gain meaningful employment in an area of their secondary transition interest and then it’s our hope that a partnership with the family and the employer can continue to be solidified and led to that employment.”

Reach Managing Editor Richard Caines at rcaines@iniusa.org.