3.3. WBE workplaces where the case studies were conducted
The schools attended by Tim and Ashley are in a districtschoolboardin Ontario,Canadareputedtoprovide effectiveprogramsfor disengagedyouth. The two programs selected were known to the researchers because both were represented in a focus group of educatorsofWBE programs[16]thathadbeenrecognizedas exemplary at meeting the needs of at-risk students and had been nominated for the focus group by WBE experts in the province. Many of the programs had been nominated for national awards. The educators in the focus group study had described their programsas providing at-risk youth with opportunities to learn and to earn credits in an alternative or non-traditional school setting. They described themselves as flexible, supportive teachers who helped students to make connections between school and the workplace. In both programs, consistent with provincial guidelines for WBE, students earned credits for their workplace hours but did earn a salary.