The Georgia Work-Based Learning Program assists businesses with building a highly trained, technologically sophisticated and career oriented young work force. Our goal is to assist in the creation of a strong support structure between local employers, students and schools. Work-Based Learning supplies talent to address industry workforce shortage needs. We promote an industry-driven system where employers set occupational skills standards, collaborate on curriculum, provide work experience and certify mastery of skills. Focus on the future with Georgia Work-Based Learning.
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, post-secondary institutions, and registered apprenticeships which will lead the participating student into meaningful careers.
Georgia had 19,394 students enrolled in credit bearing Work-Based Learning courses in 2017, which includes 3,219 students in Youth Apprenticeship Placements. The vision of the Work-Based Learning Program includes:
Creating a seamless transition from career oriented courses in High School to post-secondary education, credentials, and a successful career.
Opportunity for students to develop strong employability skills (soft skills) that will make them desired employees.
Application of the technical skills learned in related coursework while working in real life employment situations
Super Lawn Technologies, a manufacturing company in middle Georgia, experiences huge success through the first ever Work Based Learning partnership with local schools. Learn how they have given energetic and smart students a chance to gain valuable work experience while getting paid.
“Without support from the WBL coordinators who really KNOW the kids...we may not have as much success.”
Tony Bass, Founder Super Lawn Technologies
WBL & YAP Coordinators
2020 Students Served
Participating Employers
2020 Wages Earned by WBL Students
Participating Schools
Our local Work Based Learning program provides sharp, professional students who are talented and eager to learn. We use WBL participants as part of our intern program and enjoy how readily they integrate with our team. It is wonderful to have this resource in our community for creating career paths that benefit small businesses with a work-ready work force to recruit locally from.
Nearly one dozen career-minded students from Alonzo A. Crim Open Campus and Henry W. Grady high schools traveled to the downtown Atlanta offices of Stevens & Wilkinson and Parrish Construction Group on Oct. 2 as part of a joint, work-based learning partnership designed to help students explore various careers in architecture, engineering and construction management.
Spearheaded by Richard Elder, CTE teacher and work-based learning coordinator at Crim, the daylong field trip was especially designed to promote the growth of the construction market in Georgia while also showcasing the renovation and construction of the former David T. Howard School, which will house nearly 1,400 middle school students in the Grady Cluster when it opens in the fall of 2020.
During their tours of Stevens & Wilkinson and Parrish Construction Group, the 11 students gained knowledge about topics ranging from architectural plans and drawings, to construction and renovation from conception to completion.
Elder said the trip was designed to not only expose students to the myriad of career opportunities available in construction management and architecture and engineering, but to also invite other APS high schools to participate in Crim's construction work-based learning program.
“There is so much construction happening in Atlanta and the surrounding area, that we wanted to open up the program, especially since the demand is high and there is a need for young people to enter the industry,” Elder said. “This program gives our students an opportunity to get experience and to not just participate in a program where they’ll be doing menial work. It gives them experience with all phases of construction, from working in the field and office to learning about plumbing, electrical and carpentry work.”
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