The Disconnect We Must Close
In a time when workforce gaps are growing and industries are evolving faster than ever, too many students still graduate without a clear view of their future career paths. This isn’t a matter of student potential—it’s a matter of exposure and access.
The disconnect between education and employment starts early, but so can the solution.
The Case for High-Quality Work-Based Learning
Career-connected learning must begin well before high school graduation. When students are introduced to real-world opportunities through structured work-based learning—internships, job shadows, mentorships, and technical training—they gain more than knowledge. They gain direction.
A recent Education Week article highlights how the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is building scalable models to connect industry with education in meaningful ways. As Lord Ryan Lizardo, Vice President of Education for the Chamber, explains:
“One thing is really bulking up K-12 work-based learning opportunities [to build] career awareness for students. You could think about a career fair and you bring in a doctor or a nurse, but some students may want to be an architect and don’t know what that is or an engineer and don’t know what that is. We want to make sure that we’re building opportunities to give them a full scope of the different types of roles. We [also] want to give them the opportunity to actually step into these roles, for internships, job shadows, mentorships that allow them to start thinking about that for the very near future.”
This perspective reflects the critical shift needed in how we prepare students—not just for graduation, but for life beyond school.
What Quality Really Looks Like
At GPS Education Partners, we define high-quality work-based learning by five core elements:
Intentional Design – Programs are tied to student learning goals and industry needs
Early Exposure – Career awareness starts as early as middle school
Industry Engagement – Businesses co-create pathways, not just sponsor them
Technical Relevance – Students learn skills that align with real job expectations
Supportive Structures – Mentors, instructors, and partners guide the journey
Our work with partners like 3M and Gustave A. Larson demonstrates how early, hands-on learning leads to better student outcomes and stronger workforce pipelines.
Why It Matters—for Everyone
Students gain purpose, confidence, and a sense of belonging in future industries
Schools create more relevant and equitable pathways to success
Businesses address long-term talent shortages and help shape the future workforce
Communities benefit from stronger economies and more engaged youth
Work-based learning is not a peripheral activity—it’s a core strategy for education and workforce development.
Rethinking Education: The Time Is Now
Education must do more than prepare students to pass tests—it must prepare them to participate in the economy and lead in their communities. That starts with breaking down silos and building bridges between school and work, learning and doing.
By starting early, exposing students to a broader spectrum of careers, and providing access to real experiences, we can redefine what success looks like—for learners and leaders alike. Let’s build the future of education through intentional, high-quality work-based learning. Together.
