About CEO

"The CEO Program is integral to ensuring not only that our students with disabilities get the best education possible but also that they are prepared to compete in the new economy that is emerging in the District of Columbia.”

– Former Mayor, Vincent Gray

About CEO

Competitive Employment Opportunities (CEO) is a mentorship/internship program for high school students with IEPs and 504s on the diploma pathway. CEO teaches students to embody the characteristics poise, tenacity, and initiative in the workplace.

The program has three components, and student-interns are expected to fulfill each:

• Professional Developments: From January to June, students attend professional developments twice per month, after school. Topics include self-advocacy and disability disclosure, conflict resolution, netiquette, resume workshop, and mock interviews. Classes take place on Tuesday or Thursday from 4:30-6:00pm.
• Career-Focused Project Sessions with Mentors: From January to June, students attend mentoring sessions. Student are matched with a mentor in a career field of their interests. Each student collaborates with their mentor on a project that reflects the work in their field of interest. Students present this project in June. Mentoring classes take place twice a month on Tuesday or Thursday from 4:30-6:00pm.
• 80-hour Summer Internship: Students who successfully complete the Professional Development and Career-Focused Project series are eligible for an 80-hour summertime internship. The internship takes place at the mentor’s place of employment.