The mission of the Work-Based Learning Program is to assist in providing a highly trained, technologically sophisticated and career oriented young work force. This is accomplished by developing partnerships between business, industry, students, parents, school systems, coordinators, and post-secondary institutions which will lead the participating student into meaningful careers.

• To assist in the creation of a strong support structure and partnerships between local employers, secondary schools, and technical schools, colleges and certified training programs.

• To provide assistance in the articulation of programs of study between high schools and post-secondary institutions.

• To create a system that is industry driven where employers and their representatives help set occupational skills standards, collaborate on curriculum, provide work experience and work place mentors for students, and certify mastery of skills leading to the award of a skill certificate.

• To focus on student’s learning about “many aspects” of a broad industry cluster rather than mastering a narrow set of occupational skills.

Work-Based Learning is learning that results from work experience designed to increase the knowledge and skills of the learner. The work experience is supplemented with instruction and activities that apply, reinforce, refine, or extend the learning that occurs during work, so that learners develop attitudes, knowledge, skills, and habits that might not develop solely from work experiences. Students continue to take course work related to his/her career interest, but also being paid, on the-job training or a non-paid internship through a structured workplace learning program.