Expanding Access to K-12 High School Work-Based Learning. Policy Update. Vol. 32, No. 1

Abstract

Only half of high school students report feeling prepared for their postsecondary lives, according to a Gallup poll. In a separate survey by Morning Consult, two-thirds of young people aged 16-24 said they did not know what career to pursue, and only 44 percent of 19- to 24-year-olds who had not enrolled in college were satisfied with their career or education path. To help students make the connections between their K-12 schooling and work, state leaders are bolstering work-based learning (WBL). This Policy Update discusses ways that state boards have applied different strategies to expand WBL opportunities, including: (1) graduation requirements; (2) diploma seals; (3) specialized high schools; (4) accountability systems; and (5) alignment with business needs.