Providing Effective Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Students, Schools and Businesses, Tulikangas, Summer 2026

Course Description

In order to develop legal, safe, and effective work-based learning programs and experiences, school personnel must understand labor and safety laws and practices; sales and marketing; career development strategies; and effective systems for organizing, monitoring and evaluating student learning opportunities with businesses and community partners. This course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge base needed to develop and operate a coherent work-based learning (WBL) program for a school or organization under the Vermont Work-Based Learning educator’s license endorsement.

Audience: Middle and high school level educators, with a Bachelor’s Degree, responsible for managing WBL programs who may also be seeking to acquire a WBL endorsement on their teaching license. In addition, this course would be of great value to anyone in a position that allows for the implementation of some or all areas of work-based learning.

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals:

1. To provide educators with a broad foundation of knowledge and skills for managing WBL programs.
2. To help educators earn a WBL teaching endorsement.

Course Objectives:

This course will provide participants with the knowledge base to develop a coherent work-based learning program relative to:

1. Developing a working knowledge of federal and state labor laws related to:

1. the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in order to identify key considerations in the employer/employee relationship;
2. federal and state child labor laws including Hazardous Occupations for both traditional and agricultural enterprises.
3. Understanding federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines and how to assess a work site for specific and general safety considerations.
4. Ensuring accident and liability insurance for non-paid experiences and Workers’ Compensation Insurance for paid placements.
5. Demonstrating knowledge regarding components of a variety of training agreements and plans from Job Shadows to Employer Paid Work Experiences.
6. Managing the ongoing and ever-changing logistics of student placements including supervisor, student and program evaluations, on-the-job problem solving and ending placements appropriately.
7. Understanding the variety of businesses and organizations in your school or organization’s area and how to develop effective business-education partnerships including:
   1. Marketing & Sales
   2. Communication
   3. Employer/Partner Recognition
8. Having a basic understanding of resources and strategies for providing career assessments, counseling and career development to students.
9. Understanding the importance of involving parents, teachers, administrators and others (e.g. special educators) in the planning and implementation of student work-based learning experiences.
10. Meeting the needs of all students in work-based learning including considerations related to special education, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act provisions and planning, as well as encouraging and supporting non-traditional students in WBL activities.
11. Understanding the connection between work-based learning opportunities and Personal Learning Plans & Performance-based Learning.
12. Reflecting on the current status of WBL activities and programs within your school and community, and ideas for the continuation, improvement, and expansion program and/or services.

Required Readings/Resources

Costs for required readings/resources may not be included in the course tuition. Please contact VT-HEC for more information.