PAES® Lab for Lakeland Consortium Students!

We’re thrilled to share the Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES®), a hands-on work lab now available to students in the Lakeland area. Located at the Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, the PAES® Lab gives students a real-world work experience in a safe, supportive environment.

Here’s how it works:

• Students become “employees” for the day, and our teaching staff become their “work supervisors.”

• Students clock in and out just like they would at a real job, using time clock software.

• During their “shift,” students explore nearly 300 different jobs across five career fields—discovering what they enjoy and where their strengths lie.

What makes PAES® special?

1. Learning by Doing
   Students get hands-on experience completing tasks independently, just like in the workplace. If they need help, our staff is there to guide them, but the focus is on building independence and confidence.
   
   

2. Discovering Strengths
   Every task helps students uncover their unique abilities and preferences. They learn what they’re good at and what they enjoy doing, which is key to finding a future job they’ll love.
   
   

3. Real-World Preparation
   The PAES® Lab helps students get ready for their first work experience by building skills and confidence. Knowing their strengths ahead of time sets them up for success!
   
   

4. Support That Transfers
   If a student needs accommodations to complete a task, we document them. These supports can follow the student into future jobs, ensuring long-term success.
   
   

Why PAES® in the Community?

Our PAES® Lab is unique—it’s located in a real workplace at the Howard Young Medical Center. This means students aren’t just learning job skills—they’re also practicing what it’s like to go to work in the community. They see other employees in action and learn how to navigate a workplace setting.

This experience gives students a head start on understanding what work is really like, building the confidence and skills they’ll need for community-based jobs, internships, or even independent living.

Reports That Make a Difference

PAES® isn’t just about hands-on learning; it also provides detailed reports. These reports help guide each student’s transition plan by showing:

• Their job skills and interests

• Strengths and areas for growth

• Recommendations for future work experiences or training

These reports are a valuable tool for students, parents, teachers, and vocational services as they plan for the future.

PAES® Fun Facts

• There are about 8 PAES® Labs in Wisconsin and over 1,800 across the U.S.

• Our PAES® Lab is the first in the country located in a community business setting!

What’s Next?

After completing PAES®, students will have the opportunity to explore more real-world experiences, like job shadowing, internships, or mentorships. The goal is to help each student transition smoothly into their next step—whether that’s a job, additional training, or independent living.

We’re excited to see our students thrive with this innovative program. PAES® is more than just a lab—it’s a launchpad for a bright future!

First Step: Basic Skills Series
A Developmental Transition & Life Skills Program

The First Step Program is specially designed for diverse learners who need extra support and guidance. This program focuses on building essential life and transition skills through hands-on activities and real-world learning.

The program includes:

• Four Work Centers that cover 40 subjects with 119 lessons and 354 practical activities.

• DVD Instructional Videos to help guide students through each lesson.

Mastery-Based Learning Assessment
Students are assessed using a Mastery-Based approach, where each of the 354 activities is evaluated based on three key areas:

• Basic Mastery (understanding the core concept),

• Functional Mastery (applying the skill in real-life scenarios),

• Interest (engagement and enthusiasm for the subject).

This assessment helps track student progress and can be used to create Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), set specific goals, and develop career plans. The data gathered can be used for data-driven decision making, ensuring each student’s needs are being met and their progress is carefully monitored.

New at the Lakeland STAR PAES Lab system for 2024-25 is the addition of a Project: Discovery's Life Ready, Job Ready curriculum. Here learners will explore, experience, learn and develop real-life job skills with actual tasks and job tools while reinforcing core academic skills. Students who learn by doing will excel and enhance their opportunities in the workforce and will be Job Ready. There are four different series within Project Discovery to meet the needs of every student. These series offer solutions for students of all functioning levels, ranging from Kindergarten to 18-21+ programs.

https://www.paesauthor.com/about-paes

https://www.ctconline.net/ctc-products/firststep

https://educationassociates.com/whatweoffer/project-discovery/