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Improving opportunity for all by integrating school, community and the workplace.

Connecting businesses to schools with work-based learning.

Increase students’ workplace competencies with hands-on learning.
Engage students better, connecting relevant learning with future careers.
Build economic sustainability, training students for employment opportunities.
Business
Schools
Community

High-Quality Work-Based Learning + Four A’s

GPS Ed defines high-quality WBL as “authentic learning that develops a student’s aspiration, abilities, and agency to succeed in the world of work.”

The Work-based Learning Journey

Connecting today’s classroom to tomorrow’s careers
Find where your journey begins below

Career Awareness Career Awareness

CareerAwareness

Grades 8–10

Career Exploration Career Exploration

CareerExploration

Grades 9–11

Career Experience Career Experience

CareerExperience

Grades 10–12

Career Preparation Career Preparation

CareerPreparation

Grades 12–14

Career Development Career Development

CareerDevelopment

Grades 12–16

Successful career readiness should include a continuum of work-based learning that involves meaningful interactions with employers. By providing in-depth, hands-on activities, real-world work is integrated into students’ education, preparing them for valuable careers.

Working with our business and education partners, we bring awareness to students about numerous industries and vocations.

Student BenefitsDiscover your passions and interests, and how they can relate to an attainable career.

School BenefitsIgnite a sense of purpose in students by creating relevance between school and work through real world interactions.

Employer BenefitsDemonstrate the impact your work has on the community while increasing student awareness of technical careers.

Through applied career exploration, we bring job-relevance to students in their educational setting.

Student BenefitsExplore potential career pathways and start creating a data-driven career plan.

School BenefitsIncrease student interest in academics with work-based learning experiences.

Employer BenefitsAlign student’s interests and aptitudes with job opportunities that meet your employment needs.

We intersect school and workplace environments with practical education programs and customized vocational training.

Student BenefitsLearn valuable hard and soft skills while building an impressive portfolio through on-the-job training.

School BenefitsProvide new learning opportunities that give students the work-experience needed to validate their pathway choice.

Employer BenefitsTrain and develop the future workforce to create a more robust, diverse and innovative talent pipeline.

Through on-site work experience, we prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary for productive, fulfilling careers.

Student BenefitsGain work experience in your desired career pathway while taking classes that advance your career options.

School BenefitsIncrease student engagement in academic coursework related to their desired careers.

Employer BenefitsTeach students the skills necessary to thrive in your workforce while increasing your productivity.

Students develop professionally through WBL, becoming productive members in their community.

Student BenefitsImplement a personalized career-training plan, whether that means securing employment in your desired job or continuing education.

School BenefitsIncrease the amount of students who graduate career-ready.

Employer BenefitsGain access to highly motivated employees, already trained and developed to meet your company’s needs.

The Work-based Learning Journey

Connecting today’s classroom to tomorrow’s careers
Find where your journey begins below

The GPS Ed work-based learning continuum includes career awareness, exploration, experience, preparation and development for students in technical industries.

Your Partner in Work-Based Learning Implementation

Work-based Learning Intermediaries work closely with public and private educators of all levels, employers/associations, and community-based organizations to provide needed capacity and services to connect stakeholders and make more career options accessible to more youth by strengthening and expanding work-based learning opportunities.

Your Partner in Work-Based Learning Implementation

How can we help you?

Whether you’re ready to implement WBL or just want to learn more about the process, our Solutions team is here to help.

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Why GPS Education Partners?

GPS Education Partners builds the only end-to-end ecosystem for work-based learning—aligning students, schools, employers, and communities in a way no one else can. Our approach moves beyond programs to create sustainable talent systems that deliver measurable outcomes for every stakeholder.

What We Provide

A comprehensive, scalable model that strengthens the entire talent pipeline

Students gain exposure, skills, and real career momentum.

Employers build reliable, future-ready workforce pipelines.

Educators improve engagement and outcomes through relevant learning.

Communities strengthen economic mobility and workforce resilience.

How We Do It

We orchestrate multi-stakeholder partnerships using field-tested frameworks refined over 25 years. Our team bridges the languages of education and industry, navigating regulatory complexity while delivering standardized, scalable methodologies tailored to local needs.

Why Us

Born from industry and proven in education, we’re the only partner equipped to transform fragmented efforts into thriving regional ecosystems. We don’t just place students or advise employers—we build systems that last.

Why Now

The accelerating skills gap demands more than trial-and-error solutions. Communities need future-ready talent systems now. GPS Ed provides the expertise, frameworks, and credibility to build them—quickly, sustainably, and with impact.

Building a Brighter Future Through Work-Based Learning

Student Testimonial

Jumpstart a career through Youth Apprenticeships

Digital 101 Podcast, IT Pathway, Student Interview

Real stories. Real impact.

Explore how GPS Ed partners with schools, employers, and communities to create work-based learning experiences that change lives.

Read Now

A roadmap for system-level change.

Learn how to build sustainable, scalable work-based learning ecosystems with insights from two decades of GPS Ed experience.

Read Now

Can AI help scale WBL?

Get an honest look at what happened when GPS Ed piloted AI-powered student interviews—and what it means for the future of WBL.

Read Now

A Stronger Future Through Work-Based Learning

Across the country, leaders are asking the same question: How do we redesign education so it truly prepares young people for the world they’re entering? At GPS Education Partners, we’ve spent more than 25 years answering that question. Our work-based learning ecosystems unite schools, businesses, and communities to reimagine what learning can look like — experiential, relevant, and deeply connected to economic opportunity.

Learn More

Clients We’ve Partnered With

We have received really positive feedback from participants. One of the biggest benefits for students is that they are able to earn high school credits and earn a paycheck to begin their pathway to financial independence. In addition, they can explore college and career options while developing valuable workplace skills and technical competencies—all before graduating from high school.

Dr. Darlene RuscittiSuperintendent of DuPage County Schools

The JCI and One Front Street Teams were both so enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and welcoming.

Foothill High School Instructor

I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. I learned a lot about how HVAC systems work, especially when it comes to 500+ feet buildings. I not only learned how they worked on a basic level, but was also able to see them and the various mechanisms in place that make the system work (i.e. how evaporation from the chillers is accounted for, how insect contamination in the water is accounted for, etc).

Foothill High School Student

Tons of interesting stuff to look around at, staff there (from Johnson Controls + One Front Street) were both super helpful and willing to answer questions / show us the more intricate parts of the system which was amazing.

Foothill High School Student

The partnership with GPSEd, Milwaukee Public Schools and community partners are second to none. The on-the-job training and exposure are just what our students need to be set on a trajectory for success.

Alex ErdmannCollege & Career Center Advisor / Planning Assistant at the Barack Obama SCTE College and Career Center

As a school partner, I am so grateful that our students will have the opportunity to participate in high-quality Youth Apprenticeships. They have been asking for more hands-on opportunities to learn skills that will help them in their future. They can't wait to begin.

Jackie HaydenCollege and Career Coordinator, Brooklyn Center High School

Their communication, their presentation on their expectations for the students is above and beyond. They care — they really are trying to strengthen the workforce while placing these individual students in a career path that’s of their interest.

Brandon HolmesVP Operations, Ajax Metals

The Impact of WBL Starts with a Conversation

Ready to take the first step toward implementing Work-based Learning in your community? Contact us and let’s see if we are the right partner to guide and support you on your journey.