Vocational Program

Students who complete the eighth-grade program at Olive Grove Christian School fulfill Pennsylvania’s compulsory attendance requirement through religious exemption (22 Pa. Code § 11.13) and are not required to continue formal schooling. Upon graduation, students receive an official 8th Grade Certificate. Families may choose to enroll their child in an optional vocational class for students age 14 and older.

Olive Grove also encourages local businesses to provide legal, biblically aligned job opportunities for 14–15-year-olds. While we do not place students directly, we assist families in understanding permitted work types and navigating the Pennsylvania work permit process. Because exempt students are no longer subject to school attendance laws, they may lawfully engage in supervised work during regular school hours, provided all child labor regulations are followed.

To obtain a Pennsylvania work permit, families must contact the student’s local public school district office—typically through the high school guidance department. In most districts, the required documents may be submitted electronically by email or uploaded via a web form, but the student must appear in person to pick up the permit and sign it before it becomes valid.

Required documentation includes:

• Proof of age (such as a birth certificate or passport)
• A completed application form (available on the district’s website or at the office)
• A parent or guardian’s signature
• Proof of 8th Grade Graduation from a Private Religious School

Once issued, the permit allows students to begin working legally under the supervision of an approved employer. Olive Grove is available to provide guidance, letters of graduation or enrollment verification, or any additional documentation the district may require to confirm the student’s educational status and exemption.