Benefits of WBL

Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Career Readiness 

Work Based Learning (WBL) opportunities provide students with career-related experiences that support their career goals and prepares them for education and employment beyond high school. 

What are the benefits of participating in apprenticeships, cooperative education, and internships (paid or unpaid)?

For Students: 

• Exploration of various career options within a career pathway and making connections to topics taught in that pathway with real world work experience

• Opportunity to practice employability skills such as professionalism, teamwork, communication, and initiative

• Network with potential future employers and strengthen their resumes 

• Demonstrate career readiness

For Schools: 

• Improve student motivation

• Increase student attendance rates

• Build relationships among the school and community

• Increase the rate of career readiness on the annual school report card

• Raise graduation rates

For Employers:

• Find future employees

• reduce recruitment and training costs

• Increase productivity 

• Hire better prepared employees who understand workplace expectations

• Give back to the community 

What are the 4 Requirements?

Requirement #1:  

40 hours (in some cases 120) of on-the-job work experience that is aligned with the career pathway listed on the student’s Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) 

Requirement #2:

Current CTE Completer or enrollment to become a CTE Completer

Requirement #3:

A training agreement outlining the skills and objectives to be mastered during the WBL experience 

Requirement #4:

Two positive evaluations completed by the employer or site supervisor 

Examples of Student Work Based Learning

Example: Internship

Students work at least 40 hours. These hours can be paid or unpaid. Students apply skills learned in courses aligned with their career pathway to settings outside of the classroom.   Counts toward College and Career Readiness

Example: CTE Internship, Work-Based Credit Bearing Elective Course 

Students work at least 120 hours.  These hours can be paid or unpaid. Students placed in this course must be approved by the Career Development Facilitator.   Students will receive grades and complete at least 120 hours of WBL hours, either on or off campus. Classes would be listed in PowerSchool under the teacher of record who must be content certified. Assignments for this class include, but are not limited to, time sheets approved by CTE Teacher/Employer, informal interviews and observations, and/or CTE Teacher/Employer rating scales.   Counts toward College and Career Readiness

Example:  Apprenticeship (2000 hours)

Youth Apprenticeship is a structured program giving students at least 16 years of age or older an opportunity to earn while they learn by combining classroom instruction with 1-2 years of on-the-job training resulting in a master certificate of specific technical skills.  It may progress to a registered apprenticeship after high school. High school completion is a requirement of the program.  Counts toward College and Career Readiness

Registered Apprenticeship is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. The traditional program is designed for adults, however, it may be linked to an approved youth apprenticeship program with grades 11-12 with a minimum age requirement of 16.  Counts toward College and Career Readiness