ACTE's National Work-Based Learning Conference 2026

This session explores Youth Apprenticeships as a transformative approach to education. Participants will learn how to design learning experiences that prioritize in-demand skills over just content coverage. Participants will discover how to align their programs with the real needs of the modern economy. 
This session is essential for educators, curriculum designers, CTE leads, and institutional leaders in high schools. Anyone involved in preparing students for the workforce who is seeking practical strategies to implement this type of program.
Participants will transition from understanding to doing. I will teach participants how to initiate a Youth Apprenticeship Program. Using my provided guide, participants will identify core competencies, align them with industry-sought skills, and begin designing their program. Participants will leave with an actionable plan and a guide to apply directly in their next semester or program design cycle.

Work-based learning is proliferating — but what does “high-quality” actually look like in practice? This session presents a concise, operational framework Big Picture Learning uses to define, design, and measure high-quality work-based learning. We center three evidence-based pillars: student-driven authenticity, intentional mentor engagement, and educator translation of workplace learning into rigorous academic outcomes. Attendees will see how coaching tools and a digital system (ImBlaze) make these pillars actionable and measurable, and will review real analytics and project design tools that illuminate the link between mentor feedback, site visits, and the depth of student learning. Participants will leave with a step-by-step plan to strengthen WBL systems in their districts or programs.

During this session, educators and school administrators will receive an introduction to the Classroom2Career initiative in West Virginia, a statewide effort designed to expand, track, and strengthen work-based learning opportunities for students. Participants will learn how this innovative initiative provides a tailored tracking system to monitor student work-based learning experiences, ensuring both students and schools can capture valuable hours and outcomes. The session will also highlight West Virginia’s growing emphasis on youth apprenticeships, including strategies to connect high school CTE programs with apprenticeship sponsors and industry partners. A new component of the Classroom2Career platform enables schools to track youth apprentices in registered programs, supporting accountability and alignment with both state and federal workforce priorities.

What is AI’s Role in Work-Based Learning & Skill Development? Attend this session to discover how AI is transforming Work-Based Learning (WBL) by streamlining processes, enhancing student preparation, and automating support. This session will showcase practical AI tools, including School AI for creating mock interview spaces, a Coordinator Assistant for managing student guidance, and ChatGPT for evaluating resumes and LinkedIn profiles to identify gaps and generate targeted interview questions. Learn how to integrate AI into WBL programs to improve efficiency, personalize support, and better prepare students for the workforce.

How do we move beyond theory and create pre-apprenticeship programs that truly prepare students for high-demand careers? This session draws on real-world models from Miami EdTech, where high school students connect directly to postsecondary credits, industry certifications, and employer-designed apprenticeship pathways. Attendees will learn practical strategies for aligning K–12, higher education, and industry partners to design pipelines that meet both student and employer needs.


Ideal for CTE leaders, work-based learning coordinators, and workforce partners, this session will provide actionable tools—including a planning framework and sample work process schedules—that can be adapted to any program or region. Through interactive discussion and collaborative activities, participants will map opportunities in their own contexts and leave with resources to strengthen or launch pre-apprenticeship initiatives.


Come ready to explore what works, what doesn’t, and how we can build equitable, sustainable pipelines from the classroom to career.

Discover how rural Montana and North Dakota are transforming education through work-based learning. Leave with practical strategies you can apply in any rural community. Does it get more rural than Montana and North Dakota?
 
This session will explore innovative and scalable work-based learning (WBL) strategies that have successfully strengthened rural communities in Montana and North Dakota. Attendees will gain practical insights into programs that prepare students for future careers, expand access in rural and remote areas, and connect classroom learning to real-world economic opportunities.
Participants will learn about Montana’s Work-Based Learning Collaborative and Data Dashboard, a comprehensive tool for tracking WBL activity statewide, as well as North Dakota’s development of virtual WBL options that broaden student access. The session will also showcase an Entrepreneurial WBL model designed to empower rural students to explore business ownership and contribute to local economic development. Additionally, attendees will examine the impact of teacher externships, which immerse educators in industry settings and help them bring real-world relevance back to their classrooms—often influencing 20 to 150 students per externship.
Educators, administrators, policymakers, and workforce development professionals seeking practical, adaptable strategies to strengthen WBL in their own rural communities will benefit from attendance. Through discussion, examples, and interactive Q&A, participants will explore ways to implement these strategies in their programs or institutions. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas, including how to leverage data tools, virtual learning options, entrepreneurial WBL models, and professional development through teacher externships to create inclusive, future-ready WBL systems.

This session will begin by engaging the audience in an in-depth look at the EBR Learn and Earn Internship Program through digital storytelling, providing a vivid example of how a pilot initiative can grow into a thriving district-wide model. Participants will explore the journey of developing, expanding, and sustaining a high school internship program that bridges education and workforce readiness. The presentation will highlight best practices in stakeholder engagement, funding strategies, program evaluation, and student support systems that ensure equitable access and long-term success. Attendees will gain actionable steps and templates for creating their own sustainable internship pipeline—one that not only prepares students for college and career success but also strengthens the local economy. This session is ideal for educators, workforce development professionals, and administrators eager to transform innovative ideas into impactful programs that deliver measurable results for students and communities.