ABSTRACT
A central goal of work-based learning initiatives is to match students with work experiences that more closely correspond to their interests and offer more learning opportunities than the jobs they can obtain on their own. This, however, takes time and effort. To provide high-quality work-based activities, school staff must recruit employers, determine which positions are likely to be appropriate for individual students, and encourage students to take advantage of these learning opportunities. Even where school staff are interested in developing these activities, effective work-based learning programs must also elicit the active participation of students and employers. Students must be interested enough to take time away from their regular jobs or extracurricular and social activities. Similarly, employers must be willing to provide useful employment and learning opportunities for young people. The enthusiasm of each of these three groupsschool staff, students, and employers-can have a positive feedback effect, heightening the receptivity of the other two. For example, eager students and school staff can encourage employers to expand their involvement.
