Regional Occupational Program (ROP)
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One of the Sonoma County Office of Education’s goals is to provide countywide leadership and support for high school career education that is academically rigorous and aligned with the workforce preparation needs of our county. This is a major facet of the Career Technical Education initiatives undertaken by SCOE.
Through the Regional Occupational Program (ROP), SCOE offers job training classes at every comprehensive high school in the county. High school juniors and seniors take ROP classes during the regular school day to earn elective credit and learn skills they can apply in future work situations. ROP courses are offered in industry sectors that the Sonoma County Economic Development Board has identified as key for our county’s growth and prosperity.
The program is governed by the Sonoma County Board of Education and administered by the Sonoma County Office of Education’s Career Development, Workforce Preparation department. It is one of several Career Technical Education programs implemented by this department.
Career Pathways, 2010-11: This publication describes high school career pathways in Sonoma County and lists pathway programs by school. It is available for download in English (pdf) and Spanish (pdf).
ROP Courses
Each ROP course is designed with input from local employers and student learning is authenticated by people in the work world – which means that what students are learning is applicable in the real world. Many courses lead to opportunities for students to “go to work” either through visits to work locations or actual work experiences. Some classes offer industry certifications, which are recognized by employers and can help students when they are looking for jobs. Some ROP courses are approved as electives appropriate for a college preparatory course of study.
All ROP classes provide opportunities for hands-on learning. ROP students make products, complete technical projects, learn how to use tools, work as a team, and have the chance to try their hand at a profession. In all ROP courses, students apply what they're learning in their academic classes and learn new skills that relate specifically to the working world.
ROP courses are an integral part of the career pathway system at each local high school. In most instances, ROP courses are the most advanced classes in the pathway, providing the final high school training experience before students enter the workforce. Although additional education and training may be required for specific types of jobs, ROP courses help students understand what their work options are and how to prepare for them. Many students complete ROP and continue on to college or technical training, while others transition directly to careers.
Career Development/Workforce Preparation
This video provides an overview of ROP and other career-focused programs in Sonoma County schools (Aug 2009)
Program Brochures, organized by industry sector, are available for download (see Program Brochures box at upper right). These brochures list the ROP courses available by location, explain what students learn, provide a sampling of jobs and salaries in that sector, summarize post-secondary training and education options, and list partner businesses and agencies that support the program.
