Working Papers

Students between 14 and 17 years old  are required by Pennsylvania School Law to secure a work permit.

Students who have reached 18, by state law, do not need working papers. (Exceptions to this regulation are 17-year-old students who have graduated or have officially withdrawn from school.)

Issuing working papers to students in the Williamsport Area School District is a privilege, not a right. For students to be issued working papers, academics and attendance need to be a priority for the student, and the criteria outlined below must be met. 

For more information on working papers, please speak to your grade level school counselor.

Application Criteria

For working papers to be issued to a student they must first meet with their counselor to review if they meet the requirements. The counselor will sign off on the application form if they meet the academic, attendance and behavioral requirements.

The student and guardian must bring the completed and signed paperwork to the District Service Center, 2780 West Fourth St., after 2:30 p.m.

Proof of age is required to issue working papers.

Requirements

Requirement for Working Papers to be Issued:

  • May not be failing more than two courses for the current marking period
  • Must be passing all core subjects for school year (English, science, math and social studies)
  • If student has more than 10 unexcused absences during the school year, working papers will not be issued until the following year
  • If students have more than 20 unexcused tardies during a school year, working papers will not be issued until the following school year

Revoking Working Papers:

  • Every marking period grades will be reviewed. Any student failing three or more subjects in a marking period will receive a warning letter that grades need to be improved.
  • If grades do not improve and student is failing three or more subjects after the initial warning is sent in the previous marking period, working papers will be revoked.
  • If student is failing three or more core classes at the end of the semester or at the end of the school year, working papers will be revoked.

Working papers will be issued for the summer months after the end of the school year. If a student does not meet the criteria based on last year’s grades and attendance, the papers will be revoked at the end of the summer.

Please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education for more information on child labor laws in PA.