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Meanwhile, check out our Training Programs. You'll find great resources there that can help you drive learning at your company.
We'll be in touch shortly.
Meanwhile, check out our Training Programs. You'll find great resources there that can help you drive learning at your company.
Getting a work-based learning (WBL) program approved requires careful planning, data-driven justification, and strong stakeholder engagement. The process begins with gathering data from students, parents, employers, and advisory committees to identify skill gaps and career readiness needs. Crafting a clear mission, vision, and set of SMART goals helps align the program with the school’s academic objectives and community needs. A well-prepared proposal, including a detailed framework outlining the types of WBL experiences, their duration, and expectations for participants, is essential.Â
Engaging key stakeholders—such as school administrators, teachers, local businesses, and parents—ensures broad support. Addressing legal compliance, preparing participants, and showing the program’s sustainability further strengthens the case. By demonstrating how the program meets both educational and workforce development goals, schools can secure approval and create lasting opportunities for student success.
Collect comprehensive data from various sources, including students, parents, employers, and district advisory committees. This information should highlight the need for a WBL program and show community support. Survey graduates and dropouts to understand their employment history, skill gaps, and career readiness. Use this data to build a case for the program’s necessity.
Analyze the data to pinpoint unmet needs in the community, such as high unemployment rates, skill gaps, or low-income challenges that could be addressed through work-based learning. Highlight specific industries or skills where there’s a high demand for trained professionals, such as STEM fields, healthcare, or trades, and frame the WBL program as a solution to these needs.
Craft a compelling mission and vision statement that aligns with the school’s broader educational goals, emphasizing career readiness, student engagement, and real-world skill development. Ensure that the mission reflects how the program will benefit both students and the local community, addressing the needs identified in the data.
Develop Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals to demonstrate the potential success and impact of the WBL program. Examples of SMART goals could include increasing student career readiness by a specific percentage, engaging a set number of local employers, or offering a certain number of internships within the first year.
Create a concise and persuasive elevator pitch that summarizes the goals, benefits, and potential outcomes of the WBL program. This pitch should be tailored to resonate with school administrators and stakeholders. Highlight how the program aligns with the school’s mission to increase student success, graduation rates, and career preparedness.
Present the mission, goals, and gathered data to school administrators and decision-makers. Ensure the proposal clearly outlines how the program addresses student needs and aligns with school improvement plans. Highlight the benefits to the school, such as enhanced student engagement, better career outcomes, and stronger community ties, while addressing any concerns about resource allocation, legal compliance, or oversight.
Identify and engage critical stakeholders such as teachers, parents, school board members, and local industry leaders who can support the program’s approval and implementation. Form a steering or advisory committee to provide ongoing guidance and advocacy. Their backing will help demonstrate broad support and legitimacy to administrators.
Emphasize how the WBL program aligns with existing academic standards and supports the school’s goals for improving student outcomes, particularly in areas like career and technical education (CTE), STEM, and graduation rates. Show how the program will integrate with existing courses, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings, thus enhancing both academic and professional skill development.
Present a detailed program framework that includes the types of WBL experiences to be offered (e.g., job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships), how long each will last, and the academic year timeline for these experiences. Include clear expectations and guidelines for student participation, eligibility, assessment, and employer involvement, ensuring administrators see that the program is well-organized and manageable.
Have teacher-coordinators conduct preliminary site visits to local employers who may serve as training stations. Show administrators that potential work placements are safe, relevant, and committed to student development. Provide evidence of strong employer interest and support, highlighting the community’s investment in student career development through the WBL program.
Outline how the program will be sustained in the long term, including potential funding sources, employer partnerships, and community support. Demonstrating a clear plan for sustainability will ease concerns about resource constraints. Provide a plan for ongoing evaluation, showing that the program will be continuously improved based on student and employer feedback.
Ensure that the proposal addresses all legal and safety concerns, including labor laws, insurance requirements, and any necessary agreements between the school and employers. This shows administrators that the program is fully compliant with regulations and prepared for approval.
Demonstrate that the school is ready to implement the program by outlining the training and preparation for all participants, including students, teachers, and employers. This ensures administrators know the program will run smoothly from the start.
Show that the program has broad community and parental support by engaging parents through informational sessions and outreach. Highlight how parents can play a role in connecting local businesses to the program. Present how the school will promote the program to the broader community, increasing visibility and support, further strengthening the case for approval.
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Our team helps schools across the nation start and upscale their Work-Based Learning Programs in a variety of ways.
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