1. Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Minnesota Students
April Schnell| Career and Work-Based Learning Specialist, MDE
Minnesota State Webinar
June 14, 2018

2. Career and College Readiness (aka Career Development)
The process of helping people answer:
Who am I? What do I have to offer?
Where am I going? How do I want to contribute?
Why?? (Purpose)
How do I get there?
Self Awareness
Decision Making, Planning and Implementing
Understanding the world of work
Any presentation about work-based learning needs to start by talking about career development. That’s because work-based learning is an important tool for helping students become career and college ready.
Career and college readiness is the process of helping each student answer the important questions of:
Who am I? Where am I going? (and why?) How do I get there?
For those of you who are counselors or career development professionals, this model parallels the widely used Parsons model of career development, with the three parts of the process being :
Self awareness, Understanding the world of work, and Decision making and planning
When our students are learning about the world of work they get information in 3 primary ways…read about it, talk about it, try it out.
The process of experiential learning is one of experimenting or trying something out (like work), learning, reflecting on how it went for us and iterating. Students can find clues from interest assessments, experiences, occupational information and put the pieces together to chart a course for ourselves.
Minnesota students have many challenges. It’s said that if a person understands their ‘why’, their purpose, then they will find their ‘how’ to get there. Students are in the process of identifying what makes them tick: what motivates them. Work-based learning can help them discover their professional ‘why’…how they want to contribute.
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3. Career Development Continuum
Understanding the world of work is a continuum. Early on, in grades K-6 approximately, students need exposure to the world of work to find out what work needs doing, or what work could be done. They need inspiration!
Later, they begin to explore careers that interest them. In grades 7 through 10 they begin to prepare for the world of work not only with their classroom learning, but also in work-based learning and student leadership activities. In grades 11-12, students are turning 16 and able to work. It’s at this stage that students begin learning for work, through more formal work experiences and career training that accompanies that work.
With respect to learning about the world of work, there are 3 ways that we (and our students) get information…we can read about work, talk about it, or…we can try it out. It’s a process of trying, learning, reflecting and iterating. The most authentic and first hand information comes from doing the work itself.
11/11/2018
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4. What is CTE? CTE is Career Technical Education
CTE helps students figure out what ‘career’ they are moving into after graduation
CTE is education that helps students try on and figure out what career they are moving into after graduation. CTE consists of career pathways and programs that extend learning across secondary and potentially into post-secondary.
In Minnesota, the Work-based learning coordinator endorsement license is a CTE license. And Work-Based Learning Programs receive state approval as part of a Career Technical Education program.
11/11/2018
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5. 3 Components of Career Technical Education CCR Program Model
Classes
Experiential Education
Leadership Activities
Connect to Community
Contribute to Workplace and Community
Creative Conversations, Listening and Reflection from caring adult(s)
There are 3 components of the CTE Career and College Readiness Program Model. The first component is class (both core academic and CTE). The second component is Experiential Education, which includes activities like field trips and workplace tours, job shadowing, mentorships, as well as work-based learning. The third component is Leadership activities, which are a required part of the career seminars that accompanies the work-based learning.
What do students get from WBL? The first is Connection to a professional Community. Students get to try on being part of a career pathway community, and learn the answer to the question, “What is it like to be with people who are doing what I think I like and want to do?”
Next students get to Contribute to the Community. This is primary in terms of assessing work satisfaction, as well as aptitude for and interest in, the work.
The role of the educator and the education community is to help students identify work experiences and help them reflect on what they have experienced.
Thought Leader for CCR David Conley (Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Oregon ) says, ‘Leadership Activities are single best predictor of career and college readiness.’ Why? What is it about student leadership activities that makes them particularly conducive to career and college readiness. Could it be that in leading an activity students are taking the most active role? It’s in the student leadership activities (whether they are classroom activities or part of Career Technical Student Organizations like Skills USA, HOSA, DECA, FFA and FCCLA) that students are the most self-directed.

6. Is there a Work-Based Learning Experience in YOUR Toolbox?
Minnesota’s Definition: Work-Based Learning (WBL) is
An instructional strategy…
That prepares students for success in careers and college…
By connecting a sequential building of knowledge, technical skills and employability skills in a career pathway.
WBL occurs concurrently at a school and in a work setting…
with the possibility to attain industry-recognized credentials.
WBL is a collaborative effort among 4 partners: business and industry, professional associations, student organizations, schools, students and parents/caregivers. 
Is there a WBL experience tool in your toolbox? If not, this webinar will help you understand the basics of creating a work-based learning program at your school district and in partnership with employers in your region.
The definition of work-based learning in Minnesota is: WBL is An instructional strategy…
That prepares students for success in careers and college…
By connecting a sequential building of knowledge, technical skills and employability skills in a career pathway.
WBL occurs concurrently at a school and in a work setting…
with possibility to attain industry-recognized credentials.
WBL is a collaborative effort among 4 partners: business and industry, professional associations, student organizations, schools, students and parents/caregivers. 
11/11/2018
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7. Why Work-Based Learning?
Primary purposes are:
Expose students to career exploration within a career pathway;
and
Provide opportunities for skill development and mastery over time.
Primary purposes of WBL are:
To expose students to career exploration within a career pathway;
and
To provide opportunities for skill development and mastery over time.
The outcomes include both student development and workforce (or human resource) development
11/11/2018
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8. Supporting Students in Identifying a Minnesota Career Field
WBL aligns the students’ program of study/course of study with one of Minnesota’s Career Fields.
Those Career Fields include:
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources;
Arts, Communications and Information Systems;
Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology;
Health Science Technology;
Human Services; and
Business, Management and Administration.
WBL aligns the students’ program of study or course of study with one of Minnesota’s Career Fields.
Those Career Fields include:
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources;
Arts, Communications and Information Systems;
Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology;
Health Science Technology;
Human Services; and
Business, Management and Administration.
11/11/2018
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9. Components of Work-Based Learning
Structured Work Experience
Related Coursework
Career Goal
Sometimes the goal is just to get work experience. Sometimes it is exploration. Sometimes is it career preparation.
If a student has a few career possibilities they are considering, a teacher might ask the student if they’d like to test one out. And then the cogs are in motion, connecting the related coursework to the structured work experience.
11/11/2018
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10. Benefits of WBL for Students
Application of classroom learning (both academic and technical) in real-world setting - A clear connection between school and work
Assessment of their interests, aptitudes, and abilities while learning about the career possibilities available to them
Improvement of their post-graduation employment opportunities
Development and practice of positive work-related habits and attitudes including the ability to think critically, solve problems, work in teams, and resolve issues
Understanding of the expectations of the workplace / observation of the demeanor and procedures of workplace professionals
The Benefits of WBL for students are MANY:
Students are ably to Apply their classroom learning (both academic and technical) in real-world setting - A clear connection between school and work
Students can assess their interests, aptitudes, and abilities while learning about the career possibilities available to them
The experience improves a students’ post-graduation employment opportunities
Students development and practice of positive work-related habits and attitudes including the ability to think critically, solve problems, work in teams, and resolve issues (and get read contextual feedback in real time)
Students grow to understanding expectations of the workplace, and have the opportunity to observe the demeanor of workplace professionals
11/11/2018
Leading for educational excellence and equity, every day for every one. | education.state.mn.us

11. (Whoa! Page 2 of…) benefits of WBL for Students
Establishment of professional contacts for future employment
Expansion and refinement of their technical skills (potential to attain Industry-recognized credential of value)
Getting Real: participation in authentic, job-related tasks
Increased motivation/appreciation for staying in school
Awareness of postsecondary education opportunities
And, yes, there are even more benefits:
Students begin to Establish professional contacts (their network) for future employment
Students Expand and refine their technical skills (potential to attain Industry-recognized credential of value)
Students participate in authentic, job-related tasks
We see increased motivation/appreciation on the part of the student, which for some means staying in school
Finally, WBL increases students’ awareness of postsecondary education opportunities (both as a result of the work itself, but also as part of the career exploration that is embedded in the career seminar)
11/11/2018
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12. Types of Work-Based Learning in Minnesota
Skills utilized in the workplace are linked with academic learning:
Work Experience Career Exploration Programs (WECEP, year olds with exemption permit)
Employability Skill Development (ESD, 16+)
Diversified Occupations Work Experience (DOWE or ‘Internship’, 16+)
Career Pathway Experience (CPE, 16+)
Youth Apprenticeship (YA, 16+)
There are 5 types of work experience in Minnesota.
WECEP Programs allow 14 and 15 year olds with an exemption permit to explore many areas of work.
Employability Skill Development Programs are foundational for 16 year olds who may never have had a job before.
The Diversified Occupations Work Experiences programs are entry level career pathway experiences for students 16 years of age and up.
Career Pathway experiences are part of programs which are tied to CTE coursework, and are supervised by CTE educators within those pathways.
Youth apprenticeships are career preparation experiences. They are a minimum of 450 hours, are paid experiences, involve a mentor assigned by the partner employer, and result in an industry-recognized credential.
11/11/2018
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13. 11/11/2018
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14. Work-Based Learning Program Components
Advisory Committee (50% business/industry)
Licensed Work-Based Learning Coordinator for monitoring (for experiences longer than 40 hours in an academic year)
Training Agreement (4 collaborators)
Individualized Training Plan (scope and sequence, including safety training)
Performance Evaluations and Record of Competencies Mastered
School-Based Seminar / Career Exploration and Student Leadership Development Opportunities
Career & Technical Education Program Approval
There are 7 important components of a WBL program:
First, there is a requirement that the program have Advisory Committee (comprised of at least 50% membership from business and industry). This is a group that meets at least twice annually, and helps supports the teacher in creating a program that is a community resource.
Second, is an appropriately licensed teacher. For experiences longer than 40 hours in an academic year, A Licensed Work-Based Learning Coordinator inspects the worksite prior to placement and monitors and supports the work experience for the school district.
Third is a Training Agreement. The training agreement details the who, what, when, and where of the experience, and includes such information as the liability and workers’ compensation of the employer partner and transportation plans of how the student will get to and from the work experience. The training agreement is signed by the 4 collaborators in the WBL experience: the employer, the school representative, the student and the parent/caregiver. This document is kept on file at both the school district and at the employer site. The dates of the Training Agreement must correspond with availability of the work-based learning coordinator supervising the experience on the part of the school district.
Fourth is the Individualized Training Plan, which details the scope of the work activities and sequence of how the work competencies will be taught and performed. The training plan includes detailed safety training, and in particular what training will be provided by the school and what will be provided at the worksite. It also details when and how the work will be evaluated.
Fifth is the Performance Evaluations themselves. It is suggested that the performance be evaluated near the beginning of the experience, as a baseline of sorts, from which the student can set and employer partner can set goals for the experience. Performance evaluations and records of competencies mastered are kept on file at the school district.
The sixth component of WBL is the required School-Based Career Seminar, which includes (as mentioned before) safety training, discussion of Child Labor Laws, career exploration and required student leadership activities. The career seminar is a class taught by the appropriately licensed work-based learning coordinator, and is for credit, as it the work experience itself.
The seventh component is Career & Technical Education Program Approval from the Minnesota Department of Education. Program approval is at the school district level, and is renewed every 5 years. Each district is part of a region called a consortia, for which programs are re-approved on a 5-year rolling schedule. New programs can be submitted for approval at any time.
11/11/2018
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15. CTE/WBL Program Approval at the District Level
Forms submitted:
Program application with signature of CTE Director or principal or superintendent (and special education director for programs serving students with a disability)
Advisory Committee members must represent 50% of business and industry
Course listing with syllabus for each course must include safety, child labor laws, career exploration and a student leadership activity component
Teacher’s name and licensure file folder number (see Table C on MDE website for licensure requirements)
Assurances
Forms on file at your district:
Training agreement for particular student/employer WBL experience
Training plan for particular student/employer WBL experience
Proof of employer liability insurance and Workers’ Compensation
Performance evaluations with record of skills and competencies achieved
Forms submitted:
* Program application ( a 6-Tab excel spreadsheet) with signature of CTE Director or principal or superintendent (and special education director for programs serving students with a disability)
* A listing of Advisory Committee members, of which 50%must represent business and industry
* A Course listing with syllabus for each course, listing the teacher and school where it is taught. This includes both the work experience courses and the career seminar courses. The syllabus must include safety training, child labor laws, career exploration and student leadership activity components
* Teacher’s name and licensure file folder number (see Table C on MDE website for licensure requirements)
* Assurances
Forms on file at your school district:
A copy of the Training agreement each student/employer WBL experience
A copy of the Training plan for each student/employer WBL experience
Proof of employer liability insurance and Workers’ Compensation from the employer
Copies of Performance evaluations with record of skills and competencies achieved by each student
11/11/2018
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16. Teacher Licensure
The work-based learning coordinator endorsement license is number (others on Table C)
Bethel University Program (It’s all online)
3 courses, completed in less than 1 year
Portfolio Process- Lakes Country Service Cooperative
Variance (suggest working with a mentor)
Other licenses embed coursework (see Table C on the MDE website)
SPED WBL programs also require a SPED license
The work-based learning coordinator endorsement license is number (others on Table C)
Currently in the state of Minnesota, Bethel University Program is the only program offering. Although I’ve heard unofficial rumblings of another program coming on line. (Bethel has a program which is all online, so it is accessible for most in the state). The Bethel program includes 3 courses, which can completed in less than 1 year.
Alternatively there is a Portfolio Process for obtaining a license, which is being developed by the Lakes Country Service Cooperative
Also, a teacher with a secondary teaching license can obtain a Variance from the school district for the work-based learning coordinator endorsement license. If you choose this option, I would strongly suggest working with an experienced teacher mentor the first year or two.
Other licenses embed the WBLC endorsement license coursework (see Table C on the MDE website)
Finally, WBL programs that serve special education students (the WECEP program and the Work Experience Handicapped program ) also require the work-based learning coordinator to have a SP ED license.
11/11/2018
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17. Schools benefit from work-based learning
Expands the curriculum and learning facilities
Exposes students to state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and techniques
Meets the needs of diverse student populations
Individualizes instruction for students
Promotes and fosters faculty interaction with the business community
Enhances faculty/staff development efforts
Makes education more relevant and valuable to students
Increases student retention rates in schools
Reduces overcrowding by utilizing off-campus learning sites
School Districts Benefit from Work-based learning in many ways:
First, WBL expands the curriculum and learning facilities.
It Exposes students to state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and techniques.
It meets the needs of diverse student populations who learn in different ways.
WBL individualizes instruction for students.
It promotes and fosters faculty interaction with the business community.
WBL enhances faculty/staff development efforts through exposure to the various employer worksites and activities.
It makes education more relevant and valuable to students.
And we know it Increases student retention rates in schools.
For some schools, it reduces overcrowding by utilizing off-campus learning sites.
11/11/2018
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18. Does WBL support career advising for students?
A recent survey of school counselors by the national group Advance CTE asked them to rate the effectiveness of career advising and development strategies used at the high school level. 2/3 of the way down the page (by the number N=89) you can see that 99% of the school counselor respondents rated work-based learning as somewhat effective, effective or extremely effective. WBL scored the highest “extremely effective” rating.
11/11/2018
Leading for educational excellence and equity, every day for every one. | education.state.mn.us

19. Building Your Program: Assess the local community “What’s in it for me
Assessment Questions:
Are there students and parents likely to be interested?
Are local employers interested?
Are there multiple businesses available?
What are regional occupational needs?
Benefits for the Community:
Creating an environment of collaboration and cooperation among the school, the employers and the community
Encouraging respect, tolerance, and understanding among different groups
Contributing to building a more productive local economy
Fostering confidence in the school system as practical and beneficial results are observed
Talk to the Chamber of Commerce, Regional Workforce Board, and look at Resources.
WBL programs are a ‘community resource’
11/11/2018
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20. Employers Benefit from Work-Based Learning
A pool of skilled and motivated potential future employees
Improved employee retention
Reduced training/recruitment costs
Developmental opportunities for a current workforce
Development of new projects with student assistance
Involvement in the curriculum development process
An opportunity to provide community service
WTC 85% stay in the field, 75% stay with the employer (that’s why its important to match interests with jobs!)
** Believe it or not, employers are as hungry for the authentic connection as students are
11/11/2018
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21. Building Your Program: Design the WBL Program
Determine the administrative structure
Identify the work-based learning coordinators
Design program structure and learning delivery system
Identify resources to support WBL
Perkins, CTE Levy or Special Education
ACTE-SPED aid for training, evaluation and special equipment
High Quality, Safe and Sustainable
“High Quality, Safe and Sustainable”
11/11/2018
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22. Building Your Program: Create awareness and Recruit Employers
Organize informational meetings to inform community stakeholders and gain support
Develop a recruitment plan to interest and inform employers about hiring WBL students
Use Partnership Council (Advisory Committee) leaders to solicit WBL program participation
11/11/2018
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23. Starting Your Program: Secure approval
MDE
Complete program application (online web application:
Licensed Teacher (for experiences longer than 40 hours, PELS-B requirement)
Courses, credits and syllabi (safety training, child labor laws, career exploration and student leadership activities)
Advisory Committee
Assurances
Program approval is at the school district level; 5-year renewable
Changes and improvements reported to MDE along the way
11/11/2018
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24. https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/cte/data/prog/
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25. Complete one form for all work experience programs
Program is defined as the Office of Education Code (first 2 digits of a Program Code):
(00) Administrative = Work Experience
Work Experience Disadvantaged (WED, ages 16+)
Work Experience Handicapped (WEH, ages 16+)
Work Experience Career Exploration Program (WECEP) Disability (14-15 year olds)
Work Experience Career Exploration Program (WECEP) Disadvantaged (14-15 year olds)
Diversified Occupations Work Experience (DOWE) aka “Internship”
Diversified Youth Apprenticeship (YA)
11/11/2018
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26. State CTE Levy: Program Approval & Funding Implications
Only Approved Programs are eligible to access Levy funding for 35% reimbursement.
The Levy system is based on the list of Approved Programs in the Program Approval Database (
Content Specialists verify the programs listed in the Program Approval Database are taught by appropriately licensed CTE instructors.
If a Program is not included in the Program Approval Database, then it is not included in Levy funding calculations.
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27. Timeline Overview
Program Approval proposals which are part of the 5 year cycle (Minn.R ), submitted prior to November 1st in the cycle year, if/when approved, will be included in the CTE Levy database.
Program Approval proposals received after November 1st will continue to be reviewed by department staff; however, the information may not be received in time for inclusion in the CTE Levy database.
Course updates & new Program Approvals (those from a different cycle year) can be made at any point throughout the year. More information on a later slide.
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28. Starting Your Program: Develop operational procedures for the following critical activities:
Orient new students and parents
Develop communication links between schools, employers, parents, and WBL students
Establish communication links between mentors and WBL program instructors
Design support systems for WBL students and systems for assessing student progress
Develop program requirements regarding attendance and performance
Design program monitoring, reporting, and evaluation
11/11/2018
Leading for educational excellence and equity, every day for every one. | education.state.mn.us

29. Minnesota WBL by the numbers (2016-17)
13,803 Student Participants
7,689 Male
6,114 Female
377 State Approved WBL Programs
407 WBL Coordinators (includes 71 licensed teachers in CTE career pathways
13,803 Student Participants in WBL in school year. Of these 7,689 were Male and 6,114 were Female.
377 State Approved WBL Programs. Judging by the number of new program approvals coming into the agency, the numbers will be significantly higher in and will be even higher in
407 WBL Coordinators (includes 71 licensed teachers in CTE career pathways who are teaching the Career Pathway Experiences)
11/11/2018
Leading for educational excellence and equity, every day for every one. | education.state.mn.us

30. WBL Resources
MDE WBL Website
Employer Engagement Toolkit (Pawlawski and Katz, 2014 at Amazon.com)
Advisory Committee Handbook ( Advisory-Handbook-2016-for-website.pdf )
WorkSafe Work Smart Online Safety Curriculum:
Career Technical Student Organizations (Leadership)
Unpaid? Fact Sheet #71 ( )
DLI’s Exemption Permit (for year olds)
11/11/2018
Leading for educational excellence and equity, every day for every one. | education.state.mn.us

31. April Schnell, Career Development Specialist
Questions?
April Schnell, Career Development Specialist
11/11/2018
Leading for educational excellence and equity, every day for every one. | education.state.mn.us