VERMONT GOLD STANDARDS FOR WORK-BASED LEARNING
1. Every school makes WBL available as part of a program of study leading to college and career readiness.
2. A qualified professional facilitates WBL activities as identified in the Vermont Work Based Learning Guide.
3. Employers develop the future workforce through WBL activities.
4. Students’ individual needs and goals are incorporated into WBL activities.
5. WBL activities are coordinated as a continuum of career development.
6. WBL activities are integrated with academic standards.
7. WBL activities are utilized as a mechanism to acquire 21st Century Skills for all students to succeed in the workplace.
8. WBL activities are compliant with legal, health, and safety regulations.
1. Every school makes WBL available as part of a program of study leading to college and career readiness.
- All state approved secondary schools strive to make WBL activities available to all students.
- For secondary students with special needs, WBL activities are integrated with their IEP/504/transition plans.
2. A qualified professional facilitates WBL activities as identified in the Vermont Work Based Learning Guide.
- WBL Coordinators complete a Department of Education approved training program.
- WBL Coordinators have clearly defined job descriptions and high quality supervision.
3. Employers develop the future workforce through WBL activities.
- Employers create opportunities for students to explore possible future employment.
- Employers develop a means to assess student performance through long-term WBL activities (i.e. internships and co-op placements).
4. Students’ individual needs and goals are incorporated into WBL activities.
- Specific learning objectives are identified and accessed for each WBL activity.
- Students engaged in longer-term WBL activities (i.e. internships and co-op placements) include a training plan that outlines learning objectives.
5. WBL activities are coordinated as a continuum of career development.
- A career development sequence includes activities related to career awareness, exploration and preparation.
6. WBL activities are integrated with academic standards.
- Long-term WBL activities (i.e. internships and co-op placements) merit earning high school credit.
7. WBL activities are utilized as a mechanism to acquire 21st Century Skills for all students to succeed in the workplace.
- National educator and employer consortia have defined essential 21st Century Skills necessary for all students to succeed.
8. WBL activities are compliant with legal, health, and safety regulations.
- School districts are responsible for providing adequate insurance and other risk management policies related to WBL activities.
- Employers are responsible for providing safe, closely supervised work site learning environments.
- When long-term WBL activities meet the Department of Labor's criteria for employment, students will be paid.