Under state law, children between the ages of 14 and 16 must first obtain a work certificate to be
employed during the regular school year, as defined by the school calendar of the school the child
attends. The Jefferson City School District Board of Education believes that it is in the best interest
of children to focus on educational opportunities and to delay entering the workforce until the
student has proven successful in the classroom. The Board recognizes that there may be
circumstances in which children may benefit from employment, and the Board will support the
child's initiative to the extent that the child may be employed and still progress educationally.
District employees are directed to notify the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
if they receive information that indicates that a child is being employed without a certificate or if the
nature or length of employment violates state or federal laws. In accordance with law, the district
will not charge a fee for work certificates.
Authorized Employees
By law the following district employees may issue work certificates:
1. The superintendent.
2. A person holding a student services certificate who is authorized in writing by the
superintendent.
3. A person designated in writing by the superintendent when the person with a student services
certificate is not available or, if the district does not employ a person with a student services
certificate, when the superintendent is not available.
4. A principal or another administrator designated by the principal, but only for students
attending the school he or she administers.
Authorized district employees will only issue work certificates in accordance with law and when they
are satisfied that employment will serve the best interest of the child. Except as permitted for home-schooled students, no district employee may issue a work certificate to his or her own child.
Work Certificates Issued by a Jefferson City School District Principal or Designee
Prior to issuing a work certificate to a Jefferson City School District student, a principal or a person
designated by a principal to issue work certificates will provide a self-certification that he or she
understands the requirements in existing law for issuing a work certificate. A copy of this
self-certification will be maintained in the personnel record of the principal or designee.
The principal or designee will submit a copy of each work certificate he or she issues, along with
copies of supporting documentation, to the superintendent. The superintendent may revoke the work
certificate if the superintendent becomes aware of any grounds upon which the student may be
deemed ineligible for a work certificate under existing law. The superintendent will provide the
student and the person employing the student written notice of the revocation and the reasons for the
revocation.
Work Certificates Issued by the Principal or Designee of a Private School
In accordance with law, the principal of a private school located in the Jefferson City School District
may issue work certificates and is required to submit a copy of the work certificate to the
superintendent of the Jefferson City School District. The superintendent may revoke the work
certificate if he or she becomes aware of any grounds upon which the child may be deemed ineligible
for a work certificate under existing law.
Requirements
District employees authorized to issue work certificates (authorized employees) will only issue work
certificates if they are satisfied that the employment will serve the best interest of the child, and the
authorized employee has received and approved the following:
1. Documentation for a work certificate that includes the written consent of the parent/guardian.
The authorized employee may require the parent/guardian to first meet with the authorized
employee.
2. A statement of intention to employ signed by the prospective employer setting forth the
specific nature of the occupation in which the employer intends to employ the child and the
exact hours of the day, the number of hours per day and the days per week during which the
child is to be employed.
3. The child's birth certificate or other documentary evidence of age, as prescribed by the
authorized employee.
4. A certificate of the principal of the school the child attends or has attended giving the grades
received by the child. If a child is permanently excused from attending school under law,
this requirement may be waived.
5. A certificate by a licensed physician stating that the child is capable of performing labor
without injury, if required by the authorized employee in accordance with law.
A new work certificate may be issued to a student whose certificate has been returned by the
employer to the authorized employee.
Work Certificates Issued to Residents Not Enrolled in the District
In accordance with law, the superintendent or persons authorized by the superintendent other than
principals or principal designees may issue work certificates to children living in the district who are
not students of the district. These children must supply the same documents the authorized employee
requires for district students. Children who are home schooled or educated by a private tutor must
receive work certificates from their primary education provider.
Cancellation
If an authorized employee is notified that a work certificate has been improperly granted or illegally
used or that the child is being injured, or is likely to be injured, by the employment, the authorized
employee will cancel the work certificate. The authorized employee will provide the child and the
person employing the child written notice of the cancellation and the reasons for the cancellation.
Further, should the authorized employee determine that the educational performance of the child is
being negatively impacted as a result of such employment, the authorized employee granting the
work certificate shall reserve the right to cancel the work certificate.
State Notice and Recordkeeping
When issued, the authorized employee will send the work certificate directly to the employer. The
authorized employee issuing a work certificate will send a copy of each work certificate issued and
notice of the revocation or cancellation of any work certificate to the Missouri Department of Labor
and Industrial Relations, in accordance with law.
Copies of work certificates issued and supporting documentation will be maintained in a district
student's file. Work certificates returned by employers will be maintained in the district student's
file along with documentation regarding cancellation or revocation of work certificates. If the
superintendent or designee issues a work certificate for children residing in the district who are not
students of the district, copies of the work certificate, supporting documentation and other relevant
information will be maintained in the central office.
* * * * * * *
In the event of a discrepancy between an administrative procedure and a Board policy, the Board
policy will take precedence.
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for
related information.
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Adopted: 09/10/1990
Revised: 09/11/1995; 02/13/2012
Legal Refs: §§ 294.011 - .110, RSMo.
Jefferson City School District, Jefferson City, Missouri
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