At Workmorphis, we’re excited about the release of “Strengthening Work-Based Learning in Ohio.” This important report, developed in collaboration with our partners, ExcelinEd and Ohio Excels, spotlights the crucial role that work-based learning (WBL) plays in career pathways for all students. The report also charts a path forward for the ongoing development of WBL in Ohio.

“Effective work-based learning is essential to creating a future-ready workforce,” stated Workmorphis Founder and President Emily Fabiano. “We are proud to partner with ExcelinEd and Ohio Excels to unite industry, education, and government in creating these recommendations. Our sincerest gratitude extends to all the contributors across sectors for their invaluable time and expertise. We now urge state leaders to adopt and implement these policies that are crucial for the future of Ohio’s students and workforce.” 

Workmorphis praises ExcelinEd for centering the insights and experiences of stakeholders in the development of the report. After analyzing over 130 relevant groups from four key sectors—industry, education, government, and intermediary groups—ExcelinEd facilitated a virtual discussion about WBL needs with leaders from all four sectors. The impact of these conversations on the final report and recommendations is evident.

“Eyes are on Ohio as a place that gets things done, especially through innovative workforce programming,” said Workmorphis Consultant Nicholas Klein. “This vision for the future of work-based learning in our state—by Ohioans, for Ohioans—ensures that we build a K-12 educational system that helps students of all pathways reach their fullest prosperity potential. The Workmorphis team is proud to help drive that change, and we thank our stakeholder participants for their wisdom and generosity with their time. Congrats to our partners ExcelinEd and Ohio Excels for this impactful release!” 

Based on this input, the report offers four key policy recommendations. These aim to incorporate high-quality WBL into the K-12 experience for all Ohio students. The recommendations are:

1. Establish a cross-agency, cross-sector work-based learning leadership council charged with providing a vision, strategic direction, and ongoing evaluation of a K-16 WBL continuum that is accessible to all students.
2. Provide stakeholders with the data and information they need to make sound decisions. This includes collecting and reporting on data related to quality and outcomes, not just completion of hours.
3. Invest in strategies that build local capacity to expand high-quality experiences. Work-based learning coordinators, career coaches, and mentors can be critical to ensuring both students and employers see value in WBL.
4. Address common barriers to WBL initiatives. Strategies can include providing scholarship accounts for students to cover equipment and transportation; simplifying educator licensure requirements so that more industry experts can be in the classroom; and collaborating with business leaders to create and promote more WBL experiences to students.

Looking ahead, work-based learning is poised to become increasingly vital in education and workforce development. We invite educators, industry leaders, policymakers, and anyone interested in Ohio’s future to download and read the full report here.

The Workmorphis team deeply appreciates the partnership of ExcelinEd and OhioExcels in advancing work-based learning in Ohio. Their ongoing commitment to ensuring all students in the state have access to these transformative experiences is invaluable.

We urge state leaders to seize this moment, adopting these essential policies and leading the charge in shaping a bright future for Ohio’s students and workforce.