Innovative Youth Work-Based Learning Solutions.
These four organizations exemplify bold models for a flourishing future.
Too many kids are graduating from high school without having completed any sort of work-based learning experience or program (described as opportunities for students to learn through work).
In fact, according to our research at Britebound™, only 2% of high school students have completed a work-based learning experience, despite 79% indicating a strong interest in these kinds of experiences — a gap that’s further widened by the fact that only about a third of high schoolers were even aware of the availability of these options. And while a 2023 survey conducted by Britebound found a small increase in the number of businesses offering these opportunities, from 30% in 2018 to 38% five years later, there is still much more to be done to ensure that all youth have equitable access to these invaluable real-world experiences. Lack of exposure to these opportunities can result in young people being woefully unprepared to make post-high school decisions with confidence.
However, this wasn’t always the case: According to this article by the Brookings Institute, in 1979, 60% of teens were employed, but 40 years later in 2019, only 35% of teenagers had a job. Factor in the pandemic that came a year later and resulted in historic levels of learning loss, and the challenge becomes all the more pressing.
This drop is not insignificant, with more teens not having the opportunity to engage in career exploration and experimentation through work-based learning, which, according to a report by R.I. Lerman, “is proven to reinforce the relevancy and authenticity of the learning experiences for students.” So, with that in mind, what can we do to continue to encourage and increase access to work-based learning opportunities for middle and high schoolers? Furthermore, what are the benefits to getting teens started early?
Luckily, some of Britebound’s newest grantees are working to provide the answers.
Getting students ready for the workforce of tomorrow
The Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) Network, an ASA grantee, believes that the current education model is stuck in the past, but it’s now time to step into the 21st century. Through CAPS, students have the opportunity to engage in what they call “profession-based learning (ProBL)” experiences, all while earning high school and college credit. Learners leave the classroom and engage in a set of real work experiences designed by industry partners, which includes becoming immersed in a professional environment, learning how to use industry standard tools, and being mentored by real employers. These experiences allow them to discover their strengths, passions, and even dislikes while trying out potential careers.
“Our strategic partnership with Britebound is accelerating the potential for more educators to go where students lead. We are incredibly excited to work together to generate a first-of-its-kind campaign to activate industry partners to engage high school students as consultants, positioning them to generate return-on-investment while developing critical durable skills. We are grateful to Britebound for always amplifying our work and believing in the movement to tip the K-12 system to one that provides each and every student a self-discovery journey through authentic work that breaks away from the traditional classroom.”
-Corey Mohn, President and Executive Director, CAPS Network
Diversifying the workforce
The BRIC Foundation believes that by having learners start their career exploration journey early through experiential learning, they can encourage them to pursue and bring some much-needed representation to the gaming and entertainment industry. Through their free pre-apprenticeship programs for middle and high schoolers, students can learn from industry professionals about their work and different career pathways in animation, VFX, and gaming, providing them with first-hand insight into the industry.
“We are grateful for the support from Britebound to expand our work beyond California. As pioneers of the first federally- and state-registered apprenticeship program for animation, visual effects, and gaming, we look forward to applying our pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship models to improve more states’ K-12-to-industry employment pipelines and provide more entertainment, media, and tech employers with access to highly skilled, diverse talent.”
-Nicole Hendrix, Executive Director, BRIC Foundation
Preparing students for life after high school
Another Britebound grantee, Junior Achievement of Greater Boston, works to prepare kids in the Greater Boston area not just for their future, but it also helps them build life skills like buying and operating a first car, how to be an entrepreneur, managing finances, and more. Through their career readiness and financial literacy programs, teens can build skills necessary for the working world and lay the foundation to succeed in their careers and lives.
“We believe in the Boundless Possibility of young people. By creating middle school to career pathways for our youth, we empower them to own their own success while preparing our future workforce for the careers of today and tomorrow.”
-Radhames Nova, President and CEO, Junior Achievement of Greater Boston
Providing students with options
If you’ve read Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World by our President and CEO, Jean Eddy, you’ll know that the “college-for-all” mentality is outdated and does not reflect what today’s teens need. How can we make sure that kids are prepared for life after high school if they know that college is not for them? GPS Education Partners (GPS Ed) — a work-based learning solutions provider and advocate, serving students, businesses, and communities, focusing on access and equity for all learners to succeed in careers of the future — is a strong advocate for expanding the availability of quality work-based learning and technical education as a way to set up kids to succeed in trades and in life.
Through work-based learning experiences, students are able to access hands-on activities that allow them to try out and learn about different careers, engage in valuable interactions with employers, and gain a better understanding of what they want their future to look like.
“As CEO of GPS Education Partners, I am honored to collaborate with Britebound and our fellow grantees in empowering underserved youth to explore their career interests and strengths. With our $900,000 grant, we are committed to expanding our efforts in creating a dynamic Career Readiness and Work-based Learning ecosystem. Together, we are forging pathways to success for all learners, ensuring equitable access to opportunities that prepare them to thrive in the careers of tomorrow.”
-Stephanie Reisner
Britebound is proud to support organizations that share a similar vision when it comes to providing accessible work-based learning experiences to young people. By providing experiential learning opportunities, career readiness programs, and an array of diverse education pathways to students, these organizations are all helping to ensure that students are future-ready and crisis-proof.
For more on the state of work-based learning in the U.S., including best practices, promising models, and value propositions for employers in engaging high school students in these experiences, check out our latest report: Building Bridges Between Education and Industry: Youth Work-Based Learning as Talent Development Strategy!
