Despite a low unemployment rate, many new workers are unable to secure stable employment due to lack of skills. A new report from the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) aims to narrow the gap between what employers need and the type of skills employees entering the workforce possess, identifying core elements of system changes governors can use to embed work-based learning in K-12.
The lessons were collected as NGA worked with 19 states and territories for four years to build opportunities for youth to access work-based learning experiences. The report recommends specific action items such as aligning work-based learning goals with governors’ education and workforce priorities.
The key elements of systems change governors should pursue to scale high-quality, work-based learning and embed it across education and workforce programs include:
- Setting, communicating, and implementing a statewide vision
- Using data to measure and scale quality work-based learning opportunities
- Cultivating resource development and policy change to support and scale work-based learning
For more commentary, see https://www.educationdive.com/news/report-identifies-strategies-for-scaling-work-based-learning/573091/
For the report, see https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/NGA_Work-Based-Learning_Guide_final_web.pdf
