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The goal of education is to help students succeed, but what does that look like? Student success means they have the skills and knowledge to help them succeed not only in school but also in the workplace.

During the edLeader Panel “Expanding Access to Work-Based Learning: Innovative Models for Career-Aligned Education,” Dr. Katie Minihan, former teacher and current Executive Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at Project Lead The Way, spoke with Paul Ketcham, Superintendent at Batesville Community School Corporation (IN), and Michael Connet, Associate Deputy Executive Director at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), about how districts can work with community partners to give students equitable opportunities for workplace experiences and the knowledge they need to succeed.

It’s no longer enough to give students a standard education. They need skills and knowledge that can help them after graduation. Work-based learning (WBL) exposes students to different careers starting from kindergarten, helping them think about potential paths they can take and grow their skills and knowledge.

Where to Look for Opportunities

Districts can work with community partners, such as hospitals, manufacturers, or community colleges, to give students opportunities to explore different paths. Companies might offer youth apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships that let them apply what they’re learning in school to the real world, showing them why the curriculum is relevant and introducing them to various fields. Many community colleges offer online courses to provide college credit and help students develop skills for technical careers.

What WBL looks like can vary based on location. Urban areas have more opportunities than rural areas, for example. Because of this, it’s important to strive for equity. Rural districts may partner with colleges and companies that offer remote work, giving students from those areas similar opportunities to their urban and suburban peers.

Districts can also work with community partners to provide mentorship, job shadowing, career coaching, field trips, guest speakers, and internships. By reaching out not only to their immediate community but also to neighboring areas, they can provide students with even more opportunities to leverage. Additionally, schools themselves can have students help around the buildings.

Developing Skills

WBL gives students opportunities to develop skills that employers want to see in applicants. These include durable skills, such as the ability to present ideas, work with others, adapt to new situations and technologies, and be punctual.

The skills learned from WBL opportunities should be transferable and help students prepare for any number of careers, even ones that don’t exist yet, such as AI-related fields. The panelists explained that students who participated in WBL have been shown to have higher job placement rates, starting wages, and credential attainment than those who didn’t.

Establishing Systems

How can districts get started with WBL? By treating career-connected learning as a system, not a program. There should be a clear goal when creating a WBL plan. By engaging with the community from the start, districts can see what employers look for in applicants and incorporate that into their plans.

In addition, working with strategic partners in convening councils keeps districts accountable and will continue to ensure that education remains aligned with industry. There are free online resources offered by associations like ACTE to help districts get started with WBL and CTE. Plus, many schools are willing to share their own resources and experiences with those looking to get started. If a district also has a relationship with a community partner, start by reaching out to them and build from there.

Everyone involved in the system must own the WBL process. That means that teachers need to agree on the definition of college and career readiness and why WBL is so important. It connects curricula and real-world experience. It also helps students make connections they might not have otherwise, and opens doors for underserved communities.

All students must have the opportunity to develop skills that will help them in the workplace, and Work-Based Learning gives students what they need to succeed in life beyond school.

Learn more about this edWeb broadcast, Expanding Access to Work-Based Learning: Innovative Models for Career-Aligned Education, sponsored by Project Lead The Way.

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Article by Jon Scanlon, based on this edLeader Panel