ACTE's National Work-Based Learning Conference

Breakfast has been generously sponsored by Eduready 360

This presentation will feature a nationally recognized and award-winning renovation to the typical ‘career fair’ design. This re-composition, what I call a 'Reverse Career Fair', is designed to guarantee student-employer engagement. Within this design, students will naturally have to self-advocate, promote their skills, and interact meaningfully with employers and industry representatives. While leveraged in a Georgia Work-Based Learning Program, the 'Reverse Career Fair' is a natural and dynamic capstone for any CTE Pathway or work experience. All event documents and resources will be made available, but only to verified session attendees--so make this session a priority!

This session will feature a dynamic panel of three CTE teachers (Agriculture, Health Science, and Design & Multimedia) alongside their Work-Based Learning (WBL) students, sharing real-world experiences in internships, on-the-job training, and supervised entrepreneurial ventures. The panel will explore how these opportunities were developed through partnerships with local industries, community leaders, and other key stakeholders, giving students valuable technical, employability, and career readiness skills.

Students will discuss their involvement in hands-on learning environments, such as Demon Graphics—a student-run design and print business—and HOSA Learning Labs and Community Clinics, where they applied classroom knowledge in real-world settings. Additionally, an Agriculture student will highlight their experience working with the La Plata County Economic Alliance, where they participated in local agricultural business initiatives, gained insights into sustainable farming practices, and developed leadership skills through community-based projects. Teachers will outline how they established and managed these entrepreneurial experiences, fostered collaboration with industry partners, and contributed to creating a skilled workforce to support the local economy and the education sector.

Suggested Format:
The session will be conducted as a panel discussion moderated by the CTE Director of Durango School District 9-R. Teachers and their WBL students will discuss their collaborative processes and how they created a successful WBL environment. The session will conclude with a Q&A, allowing attendees to engage directly with the panelists.

This session will be a powerful testimony concerning how a small group of individuals can work together with business, industry, school and community members to create a program that is being replicated to provide  equal career education access to all students in their state. Jumpstart has created an event called Draft Day.  Our event is designed to connect high school students with industry professionals, offering them a chance to explore job opportunities and work-based learning. These are our basic rotations:

Pregame Rotation: This session prepares students for "live" interviews and professional interactions, teaching essential skills like resume writing, interview techniques, and basic workplace readiness.

Draft Day Interviews: Students engage in "live" interviews with potential employers.

Postgame Rotation: After the interviews, this segment focuses on professionalism, real-life skills, helping students understand how to transition from academic settings to the professional world.

Overall, Draft Day aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully navigate their future selves.

We believe that sharing our approach will provide valuable insights for WBL coordinators looking to enhance their programs. We would be thrilled to discuss how our exciting Draft Day process can serve as a model for others.

In this interactive session, educators will explore the key steps to designing and implementing a curriculum that incorporates work-based learning experiences. From aligning course content with essential career skills to creating meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities, participants will leave with practical strategies for integrating real-world learning into their classes. Discover how to transform your classroom into a career-readiness hub, equipping students with the skills needed for ultimate success in a work-based learning placement.

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." – W.B. Yeats

This session will be a powerful testimony concerning how a small group of individuals can work together with business, industry, school and community members to create a program that is being replicated to provide  equal career education access to all students in their state.

In 2018, eleven career coaches were put into place in schools in Pontotoc, Lee and Union counties in Mississippi to combat the inequity and accessibility of knowledge and training in high-demand job sectors . Those eleven individuals, under leadership of the CREATE Foundation’s Toyota Wellspring Education Fund Committee, began to develop activities and assist all students, in those districts, in career planning. These individuals were given the freedom to visit business and industry and post-secondary training facilities to learn what was available for the students they were serving. They were not school employees, yet worked in the schools. They were a different and new breed of educators. Their career coach cohort goal was to expose, prepare, and connect students to avenues within and beyond the classroom setting. Through strong partnerships with economic and business leaders, paired with a viable relationship with each school district, the career coaches have embarked on a mission to change the educational landscape of their region of the state.

This career coach cohort targeted the alignment of students’ strengths with intentional academic and work-based learning and ensured the children of their school districts could make their dreams a reality. Other regions, other school districts, economic developers and legislators were taking notice. Legislation was created to adopt this career coach model for the entire state of Mississippi, so all students will receive equal access to career information.

Presenters will share the background story and need for the career coach movement in their state. They will also share best practices and digital resources they use with students. Conference attendees will be able to gain social media access to follow along on the career coach journey and they will be able to listen to video testimonials from students, career coaches and business and industry professionals.

This innovative session presents a revolutionary approach to guiding students toward fulfilling careers. "Pathways to Purpose" introduces cutting-edge techniques to help students discover work they're naturally wired to do. Attendees will explore practical methods for utilizing personality assessment tools and integrating real-world experiences into CTE curricula.

The session's highlight is the "Pathway to Purpose" approach - a method of reverse engineering career paths from dream jobs through post-secondary training back to high school coursework. Through interactive demonstrations and practical examples, participants will gain valuable skills in analyzing personality data, designing experiential learning opportunities, and creating personalized career roadmaps.

CTE instructors, counselors, and administrators will find this session particularly valuable. Attendees will be equipped with actionable strategies to empower students in their career journeys. This session offers a unique opportunity for educators to transform their approach to career guidance and make a lasting impact on students' futures.

In this session, participants will explore how school systems can collaborate with employer partners and registered apprenticeship sponsors to allow students to begin their career journey while still in high school.  Attendees will gain insights into best practices for structuring these pathways to ensure students can smoothly and successfully transition into full-time employment, while also playing a crucial role for employers in developing a skilled workforce.

Effective partnership engagement and relationship management with business partners is essential for successful work-based learning (WBL) programs. At Collins Career Technical Center, our commitment to networking and collaboration with local businesses has been the cornerstone of our success. Through strategic alliances with industry leaders, such as Central Midwest Carpenters Union, Intermountain Electronics, and University of Kentucky (UK) King’s Daughters Medical Center, we have created a sustainable pipeline of opportunities for students. These partnerships provide hands-on learning, mentorship, and future employment prospects, helping students seamlessly transition from education to careers.
This presentation will provide a deep dive into how Collins Career Technical Center builds and nurtures long-lasting relationships with business partners, ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes for both students and employers. Attendees will gain practical strategies to enhance their own partnership engagement, relationship management, and networking with local businesses, unions, and organizations.

Join the team at Canal Winchester Local Schools (Ohio) to explore how to equip students with critical employability skills and professional competencies essential for success in today’s job market. Learn how to identify and develop these competencies through experiential learning, with the help of tools like SchooLinks. We'll dive into the role of mentors and Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal (OMJR) in helping students demonstrate their skills and competencies while using experiential learning to pinpoint areas for improvement. This session will cover how to track and report OMJR completion metrics, internships, and real-world experiences digitally, shifting from outdated paper processes to a more efficient, data-driven approach.

The Honolulu District Intermediary, Hawaii Workforce Pipeline, is dedicated to supporting high schools by providing customized work-based learning (WBL) opportunities. Our presentation will outline the comprehensive process we use to align WBL experiences with teacher objectives, ensuring that each opportunity is tailored to meet specific educational goals.

We will walk through the various WBL experiences we offer our students and educators, including:
- Teacher externships
- Student professionalism workshops
- Virtual industry conversations
- Job shadowing
- Internships

Additionally, we will present examples of the templates and tools we use to track student participation in WBL and to facilitate seamless communication with teachers, ensuring effective collaboration and success for all stakeholders.

Educators of Tomorrow (EOT) is an interdepartmental collaboration within Los Angeles Unified among CTE-Linked Learning, Human Resources, and Personnel Commission to increase the instructional workforce through our homegrown child development and public service pathways. Throughout the school year, students are prepared to pass district exams required for the teacher assistant (TA), an entry-level position that is a career pathway towards a teaching career. Our unique approach culminates in a hiring event where district personnel directly hire our students as teacher assistants and other entry level positions, offering graduates a seamless transition into the teaching profession.

This session will discuss the formation of Montana’s Work-based Learning Collaborative and share some of its big successes around data and programming. , while resources for development in other states. Attendees will learn about  Montana’s Work-based Learning Data Dashboard, which is a tool to examine all things WBL across the state, and have the ability to work with the dashboard during the session.  And finally, the session will look at how teacher externships can provide unique professional development opportunities where teachers are immersed in a company to learn about the skills and competencies needed to succeed in that industry or career path. This experience strengthens an educator's teaching abilities and brings relevant, real-world context into the classroom. Externships are often transformative for educators, students, and industry partners.

How do we know if the WBL we’re doing is really helping students? When you’re reflecting back on a WBL activity, do you wish you could know the actual impact it had on students’ progress towards career readiness instead of just hoping it was helpful? How can you see which activities move the needle the most? In this interactive session, we’ll delve into strategies for tracking individual-level student data focused on progress towards 3 key outcomes: identifying career aspirations, developing employability skills, and building professional connections. Together, we’ll dig into data and key insights from over 4,400 WBL activities offered in 2023-24 in NAF academies in high schools across 34 states, including examples of specific activities that had the highest impact, to help inform your own WBL choices. Finally, we’ll discuss ways you can highlight this type of data to promote and market your WBL program and explore NAF’s collection of free resources (videos, WBL Activity All-Stars Collection, templates, and more).

This session delves into West-MEC's "Education and Industry Partnership Playbook," offering a roadmap for schools and industry to establish and cultivate meaningful partnerships. It will break down three levels of partnership—Impression, Engagement, and Strategic—and outline the benefits at each stage for both parties. Attendees will learn the how-tos for effective collaboration, including best practices for initiating contact, setting expectations, and building sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships. Additionally, the session will cover common do’s and don’ts, ensuring that both schools and industry partners are equipped with the knowledge needed to start strong and avoid potential pitfalls. Whether you're aiming to offer guest lectures or co-develop programs, this session provides practical guidance to create successful partnerships from day one.This session will offer practical insights and tools to help participants foster effective school-industry partnerships that provide meaningful student experiences while addressing industry workforce needs.

This session delves into West-MEC's "Education and Industry Partnership Playbook," offering a roadmap for schools and industry to establish and cultivate meaningful partnerships. It will break down three levels of partnership—Impression, Engagement, and Strategic—and outline the benefits at each stage for both parties. Attendees will learn the how-tos for effective collaboration, including best practices for initiating contact, setting expectations, and building sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships. Additionally, the session will cover common do’s and don’ts, ensuring that both schools and industry partners are equipped with the knowledge needed to start strong and avoid potential pitfalls. Whether you're aiming to offer guest lectures or co-develop programs, this session provides practical guidance to create successful partnerships from day one. This session will offer practical insights and tools to help participants foster effective school-industry partnerships that provide meaningful student experiences while addressing industry workforce needs.

In this session, we will explore how traditional Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in Oklahoma faced capacity challenges, prompting the need for alternative strategies. We'll discuss the collaborative approach taken to address these limitations by enhancing industry partnerships. This resulted in innovative solutions including the development of timely and flexible apprenticeship programs. Employer partner engagement to adapt programming was instrumental in providing workforce solutions that met evolving industry demands. These partnerships ensure that programs remain relevant and effective in today’s changing workforce. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for implementing apprenticeships through collaboration with industry partners to adapt and expand CTE models that impact workforce gaps.

Washington State Opportunity Scholarship's Career Technical Scholarship has been around since 2018.  Our brand is often associated with those interested and seeking four year degrees, our flagship Baccalaureate Scholarship. The Career Technical scholarship is an excellent opportunity for students interested in pursuing a certificate, associate degree, or apprenticeship in an eligible trade, STEM, or health care program in Washington. This scholarship provides up to $1,500 per quarter, every quarter, at the state's public community or technical colleges. Rural residents may be eligible for additional funding; no extra paperwork or application is required.  We will be accepting fall 2025 applicants at the time of this conference, please come alongside us so we can serve graduating seniors pursuing a certificate, associate degree, or apprenticeship!

Unlock the potential of your WBL program with innovative strategies to tackle two critical challenges: equitable access and student awareness. This dynamic session offers experienced coordinators, administrators, and counselors a toolkit of actionable solutions to bridge opportunity gaps, boost industry partnerships, and ignite student engagement. Learn how to leverage data-driven approaches, harness the power of peer influence, and implement cutting-edge communication tools to transform your WBL initiatives. Gain insights on overcoming transportation barriers, addressing gender disparities in STEM, and effectively showcasing the value of industry certifications. Leave equipped with practical, immediately applicable techniques to advocate for, grow, and elevate your WBL program, ensuring all students can access and benefit from these transformative opportunities.

Discover how Oregon has developed a free, open-access employability skills curriculum in collaboration with industry, education, and workforce sectors. This curriculum spans from elementary school to adult learners, equipping them with the skills needed to articulate and demonstrate their abilities in real-world scenarios. Learn about our strategy and model, and explore how you can elevate your state’s companies and foster greater industry and education engagement.
oregonemployabilityskills.org

In this engaging session, "Career Connections: Bridging Education and Employment," we will explore innovative strategies to build meaningful partnerships that enhance work-based learning (WBL) opportunities for students. This session focuses on creating strong collaborations with local workforce development offices, establishing school-based enterprises, and partnering with community organizations to provide students with real-world experiences and hands-on training.

This session will provide a proven method for growing your WBL program, and best practices in managing. Learn ways market WBL programs to students, parents, and businesses that will double your job opportunities, and student participation. Walk away with ready made marketing graphics that you can tailor for your program. Information will be shared regarding options for working with Healthcare legal to allow under age students to work in patient care areas. Discussion around master scheduling and ways to leverage your master schedule to create opportunities with employers. Closing the presentation with organizational tactics to best manage the increases in student participation.

You’ve gathered new ideas, made connections, and gained valuable insights—but now what? This interactive session offers time to debrief, share key takeaways, and network with peers. Join the discussion, exchange ideas, and create an action plan to turn your conference experience into real-world impact.

Work-based learning (WBL) is essential for preparing students for careers and aligning education with workforce needs. It is also a key factor in measuring the quality of career and technical education (CTE) programs.
In this session, the presenters will discuss how to effectively implement and expand WBL programs statewide. Participants will learn how data can help develop and evaluate WBL initiatives, ensuring they continually improve. The presenters will also share best practices for building strong partnerships with industries, providing students with high-quality WBL experiences. Additionally, the Mississippi WBL Manual will be introduced, offering valuable resources to help enhance your own WBL programs.

In the face of this change, employers increasingly need their employees to be great at the thing that machines, computers, and robots cannot do: work in diverse teams to solve novel, complex problems. This is the human job description of the modern economy. In this session, we’ll explore how to get our students ready. We will introduce an innovative approach to delivering team-based WBL experiences in your classroom, experiences that empower students to be great collective problem solvers while connecting them with industry partners.