Part of the mission of the Marion County School System is to prepare students for the transition from school to work, as well as life beyond the classroom. A strong work ethic is essential if students are to secure and maintain successful, meaningful employment.

In an effort to meet this need, in 2002 Community Education implemented a special program called the “Work Ethic Seal”. Students who meet detailed criteria related to work ethics and skills receive recognition in the form of a special certificate. This will occur at the MCHS Awards Day in the spring. In addition, seniors who have received the certificate each year of their high school career receive a medallion to be worn on the day of their graduation. Students are also given public recognition for their endeavor in this program by both the school system and local business and industry. In past years, a cash scholarship has been given to a senior chosen at random from the medallion recipients.

This program is beneficial to both the student and the employer. The Marion County Community Education Program and its stakeholders, business and education alike, believe that qualifying students receiving this recognition will have an advantage over other students when seeking employment. Employers who require seeing the student’s certificate and view it as an important and noteworthy credential, help to validate the “worth” of the Work Ethic Seal.

The program is voluntary and the pursuit of the seal is entirely the student’s responsibility. Students are given an opportunity to sign up for the program during summer registration up until the end of August. The Community Education Director collaborates with the attendance clerk and guidance counselors to ensure proper monitoring for set criteria within the program. The criteria to receive the Work Ethic Seal are as follows:

• 95% attendance
• 1 unexcused absences
• 1 unexcused tardies
• No In-School Detention, Alternative School, Suspension or Expulsion
• A minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 with no failures in any course credit during the year
• Submission of completed application to the Community Education Director each year
• Involvement in at least one (1) of the following during the school year:

1. Organized team sport
2. Extracurricular program (band, chorus, school clubs, etc.)
3. Part – time employment or community volunteer
4. Verifiable community service project
5. School based enterprise (i.e., store, greenhouse, etc.)
6. Special recommendation from teacher

• Increase graduation rate
• Decrease drop out rate
• Reduce achievement gap by motivating students to have better attendance and better grades
• Prepares students for school to work transition
• Students graduate with strong “work ethic” and confidence to succeed by setting goals and sticking with them
• Seniors who have successfully completed the program each of their high school years receive a medallion
• Underclassmen who successfully complete the program receive a certificate
• Students who successfully complete the program are recognized publicly
• The “average” students who attend school regularly and have no discipline problems earn recognition
• Increase awareness of the Work Ethic Seal to local business and industry
• Qualifying students have advantage over other students when seeking employment
• Business and industry surveys are conducted to elicit support and suggestions
• Participation by students is voluntary