Hawaiʻi
Work-Based Learning

The term ‘‘work-based learning’’ means sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real workplace settings, to the extent practicable, or simulated environments at an educational institution that foster in-depth, firsthand engagement with the tasks required in a given career field, that are aligned to curriculum and instruction.

(CARL D. PERKINS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ACT OF 2006 [Public Law 88–210; December 18, 1963] [As Amended Through P.L. 116–6, Enacted February 15, 2019] Section 3-55

Work-based learning (WBL) bridges the gap between school and in-demand, high-skill careers in Hawaiʻi. WBL activities begin as early as elementary school and continue through post-secondary education. Through structured employer engagement, WBL helps students build on their classroom-based instruction by developing and strengthening technical skills and employability skills in preparation for future careers.

A Statewide Vision for Work-Based Learning

Hawaiʻi is experiencing unprecedented collaboration between educators and employers to prepare students for college and career success. Having a unified vision and success criteria are critical to our efforts. This Statewide Work-Based Learning Success Criteria guides how work-based learning programs and experiences are designed so Hawai‘i students are able to equitably access engaging experiences that are aligned to their pathways.

Hawaiʻi Work-Based Learning Success Criteria

Equity and Access: Ensure all students have access to high-quality work-based learning experiences within their chosen pathway.

Student participants in classroom-based and worksite-based WBL experiences within their chosen pathway programs of study increase annually. (EA-1)
All secondary students enrolled in the appropriate pathway course will participate in a job shadowing experience within their chosen pathway. (EA-2)
All students enrolled in the appropriate course have access to, and complete, an internship or other advanced level worksite-based experience within their chosen pathway. (EA-3)

Alignment: Ensure all student work-based learning experiences are aligned to promoted pathway curriculum at the high school and post-secondary levels.

Student WBL experiences reflect academic, technical and employability skills of enrolled pathway program.
(AL-1)
Secondary students, who complete a pathway program of study and matriculate to an aligned post-secondary pathway program, increases annually
(AL-2)
Employers see a sustained number of qualified pathway graduates, who completed WBL experiences, apply for full-time employment with their companies or within their industry sector.
(AL-3)

Engagement: Ensure all work-based learning agreements between education and industry partners reflect diverse employer engagements across all promoted pathways and provide high-quality work-based learning experiences for students and employers.

Active employer participants in classroom-based and worksite-based WBL experiences increases annually across all promoted pathways.
(EN-1)
Student participants, who participate in worksite-based WBL experiences, acquire and/or strengthen employer-valued employability skills.
(EN-2)