Carpino Visits Portland’s ‘Experience Based Career Education’ Program

PORTLAND- Last month, State Rep. Christie Carpino (Cromwell & Portland) visited the Alternative Education- Experience Based Career Education (EBCE) Program at Portland High School taught by Ms. Sandy Favale.

Carpino talked with some of the students and heard firsthand about the positive experiences with the program.

Favale said, “Fortunately, local businesses have been just fantastic with accepting students as interns. I would love to see these companies get a financial incentive for partnering with EBCE . The students and I appreciate the interest that Ms. Carpino has expressed in our program.”

All students accepted into the EBCE program must be recommended. The typical student is an “at risk” student who is usually in an alternative education program for their academics entering their junior or senior year of high school and are 16 (or soon to be).

The EBCE student schedule is typically structured to have them attend academic studies and requirements in the early morning and then EBCE (work placement) in the afternoon.

Ms. Favale discussed how she has been working with area businesses to locate quality placement for the teens. Favale personalizes each one of the internships to fit the personal needs and interests of the students. She is always seeking additional businesses to participate in the program.

Carpino said, “I pledged to help identify additional businesses interested in joining the program. Ms. Favale is true advocate for her students and assisting them to achieve their educational goals.”

Since her arrival in Hartford, Carpino has proposed and will continue to press for legislation that permits high schools, technical high schools and regional agricultural science and technology education centers to establish partnerships with local businesses that will provide internships for students. The proposal would provide a tax credit of $500 per student to a business that provides internships as part of a partnership.

In 2013, six of the seven seniors have been accepted to colleges or technical schools and the seventh student has a full-time paid position in the bakery of a local supermarket, which she achieved with the EBCE program.