Massachusetts Work-Based Learning

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Home 5. The Connecting Activities Initiative

Introduction - Connecting Activities

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Getting Started

Read Article: Background and History

Visit Website: http://www.doe.mass.edu/connect

From this reading you will learn a brief background and history of the Connecting Activities initiative, read about the goals of the initiative and see the most recent statewide statistics, and more.

As follow-up:

  • Meet with colleagues to learn more about how Connecting Activities is structured in your region.
  • Start a folder (electronic or paper) with “who’s who” in your region, including Connecting Activities staff and staff from other programs that you will interact with.

To learn more:

  • Read the article “Education Brief: Making the Workplace a Learning Place” (available from the Resources - Articles section of this website).
  • Read the Connecting Activities RFR issued by ESE for the current program year (available on the Comm-Pass website or availalbe from your regional office) to learn about the goals and requirements of the program.
  • Read your region’s Connecting Activities proposal (response to the RFR) for the current program year.
    • The term School to Career Connecting Activities refers to building connections between employers and schools in order to provide work experience opportunities and other career development opportunities. Connecting Activities is a state budget line item that provides money for staff who create these school-employer connections through work-based learning programs. Connecting Activities staff also support other connections, such as job shadow days, career days, employer guest speaker programs, workshops and other career development activities. The primary measurement goals for the initiative are based on employer and student participation in work-based learning experiences (jobs/internships).Connecting Activities funding flows from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) to the regional Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs).

    • Each region has flexibility in how they organize and staff the Connecting Activities initiative. Staff may come from the school district, the WIB, the Career Center, a School-to-Career partnership, or a partner organization such as a chamber of commerce or community college.
    • Each region, in consultation with local school districts, also has flexibility in program design, around the central element of connecting students with work-based learning.  Additional program design elements may include workshops, career fairs and career days, job shadow days, teacher externship programs, employer guest speaker programs, or other career development activities.
    • Connecting Activities programming is designed to enhance, complement and support other programming in the school and community, so that youth can experience a range of opportunities as they develop college and career readiness throughout their high school years.