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NH Department of Education Funds Grant to Evaluate Work-Based, Extended Learning Opportunities
A leadership team of New Hampshire educators will assist the department by developing a framework for quality, outside of the classroom learning experiences
CONCORD – The New Hampshire Department of Education has funded a grant to New Hampshire educators to implement and a toolkit for high quality Work-Based Learning (WBL) Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) for New Hampshire students. In New Hampshire, local school districts are required to adopt policies that enable ELOs for students. Extended learning opportunities are defined as the primary acquisition of knowledge and skills through instruction or study outside of a traditional classroom.
The educators will develop materials – including templates and rubrics – which will be available to all school districts for developing and implementing effective WBL ELO programs for students. These materials will support a variety of student experiences, including apprenticeships, community service, independent study, online courses, and internships so that students can achieve other skillsets, educational experiences, and instructional activities outside of a physical school building or standard school day.
“We are really excited to be able to award this grant,” stated Frank Edelblut, the commission for the New Hampshire Department of Education. “Our ELO coordinators do a great job for our students and the work that these educators will do will help add a quality assurance layer to the student ELO experiences, making sure that they have great learning opportunities.”
The team of educators working on this project includes Donna Couture, the extended learning coordinator at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, who will serve as project leader, as well as Amy Yeakel, an extended learning and senior project coordinator from Newfound Regional High School in Bristol, and Doug Cullen, the manager of career services, at Pinkerton Academy in Derry.
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices visited New Hampshire in May to see, firsthand, work-based and extended learning opportunities in some of the state’s regional technical centers. The bipartisan organization hopes that New Hampshire can show how to scale and market work-based learning opportunities to the general public in other states.