SAE
Every student is required to have a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project. SAE projects are "planned, documented, practical activities conducted outside of the classroom/laboratory instruction time in which students develop and apply agricultural knowledge and skills." These experiences are individualized to meet the needs of a diverse student clientele, and they are supervised by teachers, employers, parents/guardians, and/or other adults who assist students in achieving their objectives.
Students with an SAE learn by doing. With help from their agricultural teachers, students develop an SAE project based on one or more SAE categories:
Entrepreneurship
Own and operate an agricultural business (e.g. a lawn care service, a pay-to-fish operation, holiday poinsettia production and sales.)
Placement
Get a job or internship on a farm or ranch, at an agriculture-based business, or in a school or factory laboratory.
Research and Experimentation
Plan and conduct a scientific experiment. (e.g. Determine whether the phases of the moon affect plant growth, or test and determine the efficacy of different welding methods.)
Exploratory
Explore careers in agriculture by attending an agriculture career fair, or creating a report or documentary on the work of a veterinarian.
All students must fill out paperwork to get their SAE approved before starting. CONTACT YOUR ADVISOR FIRST. Advisors will monitor the progress of students' SAE projects and will drop in on the student at least once per year to check on their progress and to monitor safety.
Here are links to Child Labor Laws Federal Connecticut
As of Oct 1, 2020, the minimum wage is $12.00. Agricultural workers will be paid $10.20 or 85% of minimum wage.
CT Department of Education - State Ag Science Standards
Forms for SAE:
- 75-1 SDE/DOL Work Waiver Application [PDF] For students age 16-17 in a PAID or UNPAID position
- 31-23 SDE/DOL Work Waiver Application [PDF] For students age 14-15 in a PAID or UNPAID position
- NONPAID in a 5013(c)3 Organization SDE/DOL Work Waiver Application [PDF] For ages 14-18
Entrepreneurship or NON-PAID projects do not have to fill out state paperwork. Example, you have your own lawn mowing business or you split firewood for your family. However, they do need to fill out the "Universal -Structured Work-based Learning Plan" which is under the 75-1 application.
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Freshmen need 100 hours (Upon approval of an SAE project - May 31st),
Sophomores need 150 hours (June 1st - May 31st);
Juniors need 200 hours (June 1st - May 31st);
Seniors need 250 hours (June 1st - May 31st)
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Examples of SAE projects are: -shadowing a veterinarian
-raising honeybees
-making maple syrup
-landscaping
-working at a floral shop
-splitting firewood
-milking cows
-trapping
-making cheese
One of our students, Katarina Woronik has started a her own Aquaponics educational website which is part of her SAE. Click here for the link.
Below are some students working on their SAE projects.
