Quality Work-Based Learning and Postschool Employment Success

Many students with disabilities continue to struggle to successfully make the transition from school to employment. Despite advances in employment rates for students with disabilities who have exited school, their employment rates still lag significantly behind their nondisabled peers (Blackorby & Wagner, 1996). For decades, research has shown the strong relationship between work experience during secondary school and postschool employment for youth with disabilities (Benz, Yovanoff, & Doren, 1997; Colley & Jamison, 1998; Hasazi, Gordan, & Roe, 1985). However, as the continuing disappointing postschool employment rates for youth with disabilities suggest, there remains a critical need to expand work-based learning opportunities for these youth and to integrate these experiences into secondary education. This brief highlights the benefits of work-based learning, what constitutes quality work-based learning, and selected evidence-based models of work-based learning

Work-Based Learning and Future Employment for Youth: A Guide for Parents and Guardians

Setting high expectations early in life is an important step in order for youth to develop the skills to succeed in the future. Work-based learning is one way youth can identify interests, strengths, skills, and needs related to career development. A hands-on experience in a real setting, work-based learning includes a broad range of opportunities including short-term introductory activities such as job shadowing, informational interviews, and workplace tours, as well as more long-term and intensive training including workplace mentoring, apprenticeships, and paid employment. Volunteer work, service learning, and activities at a student's school site can also provide rich, work-based learning opportunities. Potential benefits of work-based learning for youth while they are still in school include:identification of career interests, skills, and abilities; exposure to job requirements and responsibilities, employer expectations, workplace etiquette, and workplace dynamics; development of critical workplace skills and a solid foundation for good work habits; improvement of postschool outcomes; and selection of appropriate courses of study tied to career goals

Work-Based Learning and Future Employment for Youth: A Guide for Parents and Guardians (NCSET Information Brief)

A brief outlining how work-based learning helps youth identify interests, strengths, skills, and needs related to career development. This brief is intended for parents and guardians of youth with disabilities, and includes specific examples, as well as further resources.This report was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, (Cooperative Agreement No. H326J000005). Although the U.S. Department of Education has reviewed this document, the contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of other organizations imply endorsement by those organizations or the U.S. Government