ACTE's National Work-Based Learning Conference 2026

The Tech & Talent Showcase gives 2nd-year and adult students the opportunity to demonstrate their technical skills directly to industry partners, hiring personnel, and recruiters within their program labs. This event bridges classroom learning and job readiness by allowing students to showcase hands-on talent with confidence, while giving employers an early look at workforce-ready candidates.
CT employment facilitators, WBL coordinators, and instructors will benefit by learning how to engage industry in meaningful ways—through student interaction and curriculum discussions—while promoting certification pathways and workforce alignment.
Attendees will leave with strategies to implement similar events that increase student-employer engagement and raise awareness of career-ready talent.
The session will include event photos, interactive discussion, and a fun “payroll” activity using candy to simulate hiring incentives and rewards.

Industry professionals play a vital role in preparing students for the future of work, yet attracting and sustaining their involvement in work-based learning can be a challenge. This session will explore effective strategies for recruiting, engaging, and retaining industry volunteers to support meaningful student experiences. Participants will learn how to showcase the value of volunteering, build strong partnerships that go beyond one-time events, and create systems that recognize and sustain industry engagement over time. We’ll be sharing practical examples, proven approaches, and free resources that you can adapt and apply right away. Whether you are just beginning to engage industry professionals or seeking to strengthen existing partnerships, this session will provide actionable insights to expand your volunteer pipeline and ensure that students benefit from consistent, high-quality connections to the world of work. 

In rural areas with limited industry partners, how can educators provide meaningful work-based learning (WBL) experiences? This session shares innovative strategies used to develop school-based enterprises and form creative local partnerships close to campus. CTE teachers, administrators, and business partners will benefit from exploring how to reimagine WBL for students where traditional opportunities are scarce. Participants will engage in an interactive session that includes evaluating their own communities to identify potential partnerships and on-campus enterprise options. Attendees will leave with practical tools—including a slide deck, planning templates, and a community evaluation worksheet—to begin building or enhancing WBL opportunities in their own schools and programs.

What does it take to move from isolated work-based learning activities to a system of high-quality experiences aligned with ACTE’s Quality CTE Framework? In this hands-on session, participants will explore how the Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL) Roadmap and Powerful Partnerships Process can transform fragmented efforts into a sustainable ecosystem for work-based learning. Through interactive tools like Connecting the Dots and the Partnership Process, attendees will assess the current state of their WBL partnerships, identify where their systems stall, and design actionable next steps to move from transactional to transformational collaboration. Grounded in Elements 8 (Business & Community Partnerships) and 11 (Work-Based Learning) of ACTE’s High-Quality Framework, this session equips participants to co-create partnerships that are strategic, equitable, and impactful.

How can work-based learning expand when a community college takes the lead? The Finger Lakes Mosaic Collective is New York’s first CAPS Network affiliate—and the first nationally hosted by a college—bringing together high school students, multiple districts, and regional businesses for authentic, project-based learning. This session will explore how Mosaic adapts and innovates WBL by using the strengths of higher education: flexibility, cross-district reach, and strong business partnerships.
Ideal for WBL coordinators, CTE leaders, and community partners, the session will highlight strategies for building partnerships, expanding equitable access, and designing student-centered projects that prepare learners for future pathways. Attendees will actively participate in experiential activities modeled on Mosaic’s approach, such as a mini design sprint and workforce-readiness exercises that build student confidence and professionalism. Participants will leave with partnership-building tools, sample project outlines, and practical takeaways for scaling or launching innovative WBL opportunities in their own schools, programs, or institutions.

Work-Based Learning thrives when industry and education collaborate with clarity, accountability, and purpose. This session introduces the Catalyst Project Process—a 6-step framework (Intake, Onboard, Action Plan, Manage, Evaluate, Celebrate) that equips educators and industry partners to co-create meaningful student projects. Drawing from real examples at the Davis Catalyst Center, we will show how this process builds student agency, ensures industry alignment, and creates replicable pathways for schools seeking to strengthen profession-based learning. Attendees will gain practical strategies for structuring student–industry partnerships, managing expectations, and embedding reflection and celebration into the experience. Participants will leave with tools to implement the framework in their classrooms, programs, or institutions.

Engaging businesses in work-based learning requires more than just offering internship opportunities—it demands a partnership that respects the realities of running a business. Schools often focus on educational outcomes, while businesses prioritize profitability and workflow. How can these two worlds align to create sustainable, meaningful partnerships?
 
Enter the Give Me TEN programs, a business-first approach to work-based learning. This innovative model flips the script, allowing businesses to dictate what they can realistically offer based on their job flow and profitability, while still providing students with valuable real-world experiences. By prioritizing business needs, the program ensures partnerships are practical, productive, and long-lasting.
 
Join us to explore how educators and administrators can simplify school-business relationships, engage local industries, and create work-based learning programs that truly work for everyone. Leave with actionable strategies to implement this forward-thinking approach in your own community.