Work-Based Learning

Work-Based Learning: Career Education/Roster

Work-Based Learning (WBL) is comprised of six work-based learning programs.

WBL is reported as part of school and district report cards and Carl Perkins V Performance Indicators.

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V, for short) defines six criteria for Work-Based Learning experiences (since 2021-22).

6 Criteria for Perkins V Work Based Learning:

Involves sustained interactions, either paid or unpaid, with industry or community professionals.
- Sustained = minimum of 90 hours, can be rotated among employers and/or positions, the employer is engaged throughout the experience. Can take place in one semester, an entire year, the summer, or even a six-week period.
- Interactions must be more than just observing and include direct communication and involvement with industry or community professionals.
Takes place in real workplace settings (as practicable) or simulated environments at an educational institution.
Fosters in-depth, firsthand engagement with the tasks required in a given career.
Aligns with a course (generally speaking should be a minimum of one semester). It is highly encouraged to provide credit for the work-based learning experience as well as credit for the school-based course.
Must include a training agreement between the student, employer/business, and school that defines the roles and responsibilities of the student, the employer, and the school.
Business and education partners work together to evaluate and supervise the experiences, which must be documented with training or learning plans and evaluation forms.

Uses

Work-Based Learning data is reported on Report Cards on the district and high school reports for Postsecondary Preparation, on the Perkins V Accountability reports, and on WISEdash for Districts as a Career Education and Coursework tab.

FAQs, Details, and Points to Note

The December Student Snapshot will collect year-end WBL experiences. Schools must utilize all six (6) criteria for both report cards and Perkins Accountability Reports. For 2026-27 school year:
- Entrepreneurial Student Business
- Internship/Local co-op
- School-based Enterprise
- Simulated Worksite Supervised
- Supervised Agricultural Experience
- Youth Apprenticeship
Note: The same WBL program names are collected for the 21-22, 22-23, 23-24, 24-25 and 25-26 school year reports.
- Entrepreneurial Student Business
- Internship/Local co-op
- School-based Enterprise
- Simulated Worksite Supervised
- Supervised Agricultural Experience
- State Co-op Education Skills Standards:
  - DPI Occupational
  - DPI Employability Skills
- Youth Apprenticeship
The December 8, 2026, Snapshot will collect 2025-26 school year WBL experiences. Schools must utilize all six (6) criteria for both report cards and Perkins Accountability Reports:
- Entrepreneurial Student Business
- Internship/Local co-op
- School-based Enterprise
- Simulated Worksite Supervised
- Supervised Agricultural Experience
- State Co-op Education Skills Standards:
  - DPI Occupational
  - DPI Employability Skills
- Youth Apprenticeship
The Perkins Accountability Report, Spring 2023 used Work-Based Learning from the 2021-22 Snapshot:
- State Co-op Ed. Skill Standards - DPI Employability Skills
- State Co-op Ed. Skill Standards - DPI Occupational
- Youth Apprenticeship
- Local Co-op/Internship
School and district Report Cards for fall 2022 release will report Work-Based Learning from the 2020-21 Snapshot as:
- State Co-op Ed. Skill Standards - DPI Employability Skills
- State Co-op Ed. Skill Standards - DPI Occupational
- Youth Apprenticeship
- Local Co-op/Internship
School Report cards released fall 2021 reported Work-Based Learning from the 2019-20 Snapshot as:
- State Co-op Ed. Skill Standards - DPI Employability Skills
- State Co-op Ed. Skill Standards - DPI Occupational
- Youth Apprenticeship