Work-Based Learning

What is Work-Based Learning (WBL)?

Work-Based Learning (WBL) connects classroom learning to real-world experience by giving students opportunities to explore careers, build skills, and apply what they are learning in authentic workplace settings. Along a continuum that ranges from career awareness and exploration to hands-on training, work-based learning can include activities such as career speakers, job shadows, service learning, paid and unpaid internships, and apprenticeships. Through internships and other experiences across the San Luis Valley, students gain valuable professional skills, deepen their understanding of local industries, and make informed decisions about their future education and career pathways.

Colorado Workforce Development Council – Work-Based Learning

This website includes resources to support the planning and implementation of high-quality work-based learning (WBL), including an overview of the Work-Based Learning Continuum, clear definitions of WBL activities, examples of experiences from career awareness through hands-on training, and guidance on building effective partnerships between education, employers, and workforce organizations. It also links to tools, frameworks, and best practices that help communities design, expand, and sustain meaningful work-based learning opportunities.

What are SLV Work-Based Learning Internships?

An internship is a structured, career-focused learning experience that allows students to apply classroom learning in a real-world setting while building professional skills and exploring career interests. Internships are intentionally designed for students in 9th grade or higher and include clear learning goals, regular reflection, and guidance from both workplace and program mentors.

School counselors, BOCES staff, and community partners support students in identifying internship opportunities that align with their interests, strengths, and future goals.

What to Expect

Students participating in an internship will:

Set, work toward, and reflect on individualized learning and career goals
Participate in regular check-ins with a workplace supervisor or mentor
Commit to a flexible 12–16 week experience designed to fit student and employer schedules
Have the option to earn college credit, when available
Be eligible for a $500 stipend after completing 75 hours of internship learning and all required program components and evaluations

Eligibility: Students must be 14–18 years old.

Program Coordination

Internship opportunities across the San Luis Valley are coordinated by a variety of partners and are organized by career cluster to help students connect their experiences to specific industries and pathways. Some internships are facilitated by SLV BOCES, while others are coordinated by the San Luis Valley Boys and Girls Club, AHEC, Attainment Network, or individual schools, depending on the program and student needs.

Additional Support

Program staff collaborate with students and employers to:

Match students with internship opportunities that best fit their interests and goals
Develop a work schedule that supports both in-person or virtual experiences
Provide additional training and support for students and supervisors to ensure a high-quality, meaningful learning experience

Colorado Career Cluster Model

The Colorado Career Clusters Model is a framework that organizes careers into major industry sectors based on shared skills, knowledge, and training requirements, helping students explore interests and connect them to education and career pathways. Developed through Colorado’s Career and Technical Education system, the model supports career exploration, academic planning, and postsecondary decision making by showing how pathways can lead to certifications, apprenticeships, college degrees, and employment across a wide range of industries.