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Its that time of year again where kids in spooky costumes travel door to door in search of candy and treats while asking the question "Trick or Treat?". Depending on local customs this may even include the telling of stories or jokes. Setting up successful work-based learning experiences for your students can often feel like a very similar and daunting process, but with the right support and resources, there are no tricks needed to reap the rewards for your students and community!
This month's newsletter offers some important updates, news and other resources to consider as we continue to navigate through a number of recent changes to how we define and analyze work-based learning at the state level here in Iowa. Many of our websites, guides and other resources are also in the process of being updated to reflect these and other related changes, so we appreciate your patience.
Please don't hesitate to reach out though with any questions, concerns, ideas or other feedback for how we can better serve you and your amazing work.
Sincerely,
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As a quick reminder, the passage of Senate File 2411 in May 2024 clarified a consistent definition of work-based learning here in Iowa as the following experiences that will primarily take place in a physical work environment, but some may be provided in a simulated or virtual work environment within a classroom setting:
“sustained project-based learning in partnership with an employer, simulated work experiences aligned with industry-recognized credentials, high-quality pre-apprenticeships aligned to an apprenticeship, student learner programs, internships and apprenticeships.”
Career exploration activities, such as job shadows and employability skills courses, help students in learning about work, while work-based learning supports students working to learn the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workplace and beyond. It’s important these two stages (collectively referred to as Career-Connected Learning) are carefully connected and build on each other. This alignment ensures students get the best possible learning experience, develop important skills and are prepared for success after high school.
All guides, toolkits, websites and related resources are being updated to reflect these new terminology changes. Some may still use the old definition of work-based learning or include outdated graphics. We appreciate your patience while we work on these updates!
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The interactive work-based learning dashboard available on the Iowa Student Outcomes website is also currently being updated to be reflective of the new state definition for work-based learning. The Department intends to use this update as a way for districts to review how they are currently coding and reporting work-based learning courses prior to the rollout of the new ESSA School Accountability System measures, which includes a new Postsecondary Readiness Indicator that includes work-based learning experience earned by high school students.
District or school staff will be able to review information regarding their work-based learning courses, enrollment counts and other aspects and provide feedback through a form on the site to request corrections, clarifications or other information. This is being done to help ensure courses are being adequately coded within district student information systems before the transmittal and analysis of winter Student Reporting in Iowa (SRI) data files.
Note: The current dashboard displays 2022-2023 data that includes both career exploration and work-based learning experiences. Districts will be alerted once the updated information and supporting documentation is posted to the site for district review. Your assistance is greatly appreciated to ensure the Department has the most accurate and updated information available for your work-based learning courses and experiences.
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The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is now accepting applications for the STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program until Dec. 11th!
STEM BEST® is a funding opportunity for schools that helps educators connect with local industry professionals. The program provides the opportunity for students to work side-by-side with professionals through authentic lessons that prepare them for future careers. STEM BEST® allows students to develop in-demand, future focused skills that go beyond traditional classroom lessons like communication, collaboration and problem solving. This better prepares Iowa students for exciting STEM careers and exposes them to the opportunities local to their communities.
The STEM BEST® funding opportunity offers award amounts up to $40,000 with a required cost share match of 2:1. For instance, if a school is seeking the full $40,000, it would need to have $20,000 to invest in the project, as well. The match may be either cash and/or in-kind support and the match may be contributed by the applicant or a community partner.
Over the last 10 years, Iowa STEM has awarded funds to over 121 STEM BEST® programs across the state of Iowa! Funds can be used to support the launch of a new program or expand an existing one in Iowa schools. Awards may be used for a variety of related items including facility upgrades, the purchase of industry-grade equipment, acquiring additional space, travel needs for exploration and costs associated with planning with partners and integrating curriculum into existing courses.
The Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Workforce Development are continuing their efforts to expand work-based learning through a collaborative and informative series of webinars aimed at showcasing the many ways that Iowa schools and employers are building the workforce pipeline across our state. Special guests also include strategic partners like the Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators Association, Iowa Business Council and the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council.
Past Sessions:
10/01 - Work-Based Learning: Essential Tool for Preparing Students for Careers (recording)
10/21 - Jump-Start Careers: Apprenticeship, Pre-Apprenticeship and Industry-Recognized Credentials (recording)
Upcoming Sessions:
11/19 - Iowa Business Council’s ‘Top Four' List of Professional Proficiencies
12/03 - Where to Find Funding and Other Resources for Work-Based Learning
01/21 - A Deeper Dive into Starting and Expanding Work-Based Learning
02/11 - Using Labor Market Information to Drive Work-Based Learning Decisions
03/04 - Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Work-Based Learning for Students with Disabilities
04/08 - Linking Perkins, CTSOs and Other Programs for Sustained Work-Based Learning
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a nationwide celebration where employers, industry representatives, community-based organizations, educational institutions and many other public and private partners host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeships and Quality Pre-Apprenticeship (QPA) programs. Below are a few high school-related events planned across the state. Consider hosting your own event or attending these and other events that can be found through the button below. Staff from the new Iowa Office of Apprenticeship are also available to assist schools at https://workforce.iowa.gov/apprenticeship.
Date Event Name & Location
11/19-20 Southeast Iowa High School Trades Expo - Middleton, IA
11/20 Alliant Energy Technical Energy Careers - Marshalltown, IA
11/20 High School Shark Tank Challenge by Cushman & Wakefield - Eddyville, IA
11/21 We Build Waterloo: A Quality Pre-Apprenticeship Program (Hawkeye CC) - Waterloo, IA
11/21-22 3rd Annual South Central IA High School Trades Expo (Ottumwa Armory) - Ottumwa, IA
Please consider taking a minute to ROAR for WBL - Recognize the great work of new or existing work-based learning programs or initiatives; Offer exciting news, updates or plans; Acknowledge others with notes of appreciation or kudos; and brag a little about Rewards or awards earned for Iowa's amazing work-based learning programs, coordinators, educators, counselors, employers and other partners or support staff.
Submit your ROARs anonymously through the basic Google Form at the link below. Submissions may also be sent directly to me at joe.collins@iowa.gov.
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- Sending a shout-out to Amy "Bozz" Bossard, EDGE Facilitator for Boone High School, for stepping into the role of President for the Iowa Work-Based Learning Coordinators!
- Work-Based Learning is not only for students. During August Professional Development at College Community School District (Cedar Rapids Prairie), 450+ PK-12 teachers participated in local business and industry tours. These two days of engaged learning provided teachers the opportunity to hear from business leaders about the employment opportunities that exist within the community, how economic development officials use the assets of the Cedar Valley, including an educated workforce, to lure companies to the area and what those companies are looking or in an educated workforce. Dr. Doug Wheeler, College Community Schools Superintendent worked with Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance officials to facilitate the tours.
- At Montezuma Community School, we have a mentoring and work experience program set up to encourage students to get real-world experience in their desired career. As a PreK-12 building, one advantage that we utilize is placing juniors and seniors with a potential desire to go into the field of education into a mentoring experience where they can go into a classroom for a period each day and help the classroom teacher with individual math help, pull out kids for extra reading comprehension and word identification work, or helping special education students with social growth opportunities and financial literacy. This semester we have 27 students working in the program, and it's been an incredible success at all levels! From the counselor's help with scheduling and linking students with experiences in their potential career field, to the business teacher's help with organizing placements, to our staff who are willing to accept help in their spaces, it takes the whole village but has led to great success!
- Congratulations to Caleb Isaacson, an Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation job candidate and the first person ever to be certified as completing an Iowa EDGE/Fareway Meat-Cutting Registered Apprenticeship! The apprenticeship was an outgrowth of Boone High School’s “Boone EDGE” work-based learning program for high school students in and around the Boone School District. Iowa Edge partnered with Fareway to offer a meat-cutting apprenticeship to students within qualified school districts across the state of Iowa. (story)
Share the Work-Based Learning Coordinator newsletter with your colleagues. Invite them to sign up to receive it in their mailbox using the following button.
Joe Collins
Work-Based Learning Consultant
Bureau of Community Colleges and Postsecondary Readiness
Division of Higher Education
Iowa Department of Education
515-419-5190
joe.collins@iowa.gov
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