OTAN News

National Skills Coalition Releases State Policy Toolkit

Many states have enacted policies External Link Icon opens in new window or tab  to increase the scope of work-based learning that combines instruction at a worksite with classroom learning. Few of these state policies, however, focus on low-skilled populations of out-of-school youth or disadvantaged adults. National Skills Coalition’s (NSC’s) scan, for example, found that among the 14 states that have policies supporting pre-apprenticeships or youth apprenticeships, all 14 states target in-school youth. While disadvantaged adults may be among those who benefit in the 26 states that have work-based learning policies that support adult training, very few of these policies specifically target disadvantaged adults.

NSC’s new policy toolkit External Link Icon opens in new window or tab  on work-based learning for out out-of-school youth and disadvantaged adults focuses on state policies designed to make work-based learning more widely available and successful for disadvantaged populations. The toolkit also emphasizes policies to make work-based learning more available and effective for small- and medium-size employers. The toolkit concentrates on work-based learning that combines instruction at a worksite during paid employment with classroom education, and that culminates in an industry-recognized credential. Workers in paid work-based learning programs obtain skills and credentials while earning a wage. This is especially important for disadvantaged individuals with immediate financial needs.

The toolkit contains:

• An explanation of the key policies that support the growth of work-based learning for out-of-school youth and disadvantaged adults;
• Examples of current state policies and local practices that expand work-based learning for out-of-school youth and disadvantaged adults; and
• A legislative template for state work-based learning policies that target out-of-school youth and disadvantaged adults.

Source: National Skills Coalition