Welcome to our Real World Student Experiences!

Our Real World Student Experiences are designed to immerse students in workplace environments and connect them with in-demand career fields. Through hands-on experiences and direct interaction with professionals, students gain valuable insights into potential career paths and develop a deeper understanding of the skills needed to succeed.

For the 2024-25 school year, we are excited to offer immersive experiences in Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Information Technology. Each event focuses on high-demand industries in Northeast Ohio, providing students with a unique opportunity to explore careers, discover their passions, and plan for their futures.

Purpose

As part of the 2026 BAC Real-World Student Experiences, the Lorain County Business Advisory Council (BAC) is implementing an updated, more intentional approach to student selection for certain events. This process supports our shared goal of providing equitable access, high-impact experiences, and data-informed decision-making, while ensuring that all school districts across Lorain County are able to participate.

What Is Changing?

In previous years, districts selected and sent students based on local processes. Moving forward:

• Some BAC events will continue to allow open participation with no required selection criteria.

• Other events will be designated as Data-Aligned Events and will require districts to use student data to inform selection.

Data-aligned events are typically limited-capacity, high-impact experiences where thoughtful matching of students to opportunities is essential.

What Does “Data-Aligned” Mean?

When an event is marked as Data-Aligned, districts are asked to use available student data to identify students who would potentially gain the most benefit from the experience.

Acceptable data sources include (but are not limited to):

• YouScience

• SchoolLinks

• Naviance

• Other career aptitude or career interest platforms used by your district

The intent of this approach is not exclusion, but rather to ensure students are matched to experiences that best support their exploration and growth.

Student Selection Guidance

Using YouScience

Research shows that students with high aptitude but low or emerging interest in a career pathway are strong candidates for real-world exploration experiences. Many students are not yet aware of what careers truly look and feel like.

For YouScience users, data-aligned events may ask districts to prioritize students who:

• Demonstrate high aptitude in a relevant career area, and

• Show low to moderate interest, indicating an opportunity for meaningful exposure

These students often perform well and gain clarity when provided with hands-on, real-world context.

Using SchoolLinks or Naviance

Districts using SchoolLinks or Naviance should apply the data available within their platforms to identify students who logically align with the focus of the event and would benefit most from participation.

Equity and Access

BAC remains committed to:

• Ensuring all districts in Lorain County have access to student experiences

• Evenly distributing opportunities across districts whenever possible

• Making student selection more intentional, not more restrictive

This process is designed to support equity by helping the right students access the right experiences at the right time.

Documentation Requirement

Events marked with the Data-Aligned logo will require districts to submit brief documentation describing how students were selected using data.

This documentation helps ensure consistency, transparency, and alignment with the purpose of data-aligned experiences.  It can also help frame the conversations and activities that will be taking place at the event.  Please note, all documentation will not contain specific student names and it will be kept confidential and will only be used by the ESC for planning purposes with the businesses.

Questions

If you have any questions or would like support as you prepare for upcoming BAC events, please contact us. We appreciate your continued partnership in creating meaningful, high-impact experiences for students across Lorain County.