Although the first anniversary of the launch of Iowa’s Work-Based Learning Dashboard doesn’t occur until this fall, new data updates are already providing opportunities for celebration and further collaboration.
The latest data captures a more comprehensive overview of participating school districts in Iowa and shows that 310 districts reported at least one sustained work-based learning program during the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, 26,909 students have been impacted by a work-based learning program.
“High-quality work-based learning programs and experiences continue to grow in Iowa,” said Kristy Volesky, work-based learning coordinator at the Iowa Department of Education. “Students have access to classroom preparation and several types of work-based learning experiences to help develop professional skills, make valuable connections and explore college and career pathways.”
Featured on the Iowa Student Outcomes website, the Work-Based Learning Dashboard provides a look at the extensive work-based learning programs offered by Iowa school districts. Opportunities such as internships, job shadows, Registered Apprenticeships, school-based enterprises and more are captured in the dashboard and present opportunities for Iowans to see what is available in their districts.
“The Work-Based Learning Dashboard is a useful tool to review and compare the different types of work-based learning programs that are found statewide,” said Paula Nissen, Department administrative consultant. “It can open up conversations and potential partnerships for schools, parents and businesses.”
Iowa is one of the first states in the country to offer a dashboard specific to work-based learning credit programs that connect classrooms to the workplace. The Department will continue to collect work-based learning data from school districts during this current school year, and updates to the dashboard are slated to continue annually.
School districts are encouraged to review the latest data, connect with other districts and celebrate their accomplishments in providing quality work-based learning programs for students.
“We know that Iowa school districts are providing extraordinary opportunities in work-based learning,” Volesky said. “The data received from the districts helps us to highlight and promote Iowa’s overall efforts in work-based learning.”
For more information on work-based learning programming options for schools, visit the Work-based Learning webpage.