National Academy Foundation

Grades 9–10 Grades 11–12

NAF, a national education non-profit, partners with school districts to develop industry-focused academies in public high schools. The NAF design combines career-themed programs of study with hands-on, outcomes-driven work-based learning experiences to create intentional learning environments that help students explore career options, create a plan for the future, and carve out a path to achieving their full potential. Local advisory boards made up of business professionals volunteer their time, talent, and expertise to ensure relevancy and support planning. Educators have access to experts, tools, and resources that help them plan, track, and measure the impact of work-based learning activities.

ORGANIZATION TYPE

Non-Profit Operator

STUDENTS SERVED

1000+

GEOGRAPHIC REACH

National

STATE(S) COVERED

Nationwide

LOCALE(S) SERVED

Rural, Suburban, Urban

WBL SERVICE MODELS

Career Fair / Career Day, Industry Speaker, Workplace Tour, Job Shadowing, Mentorship, Internship, Pre-Apprenticeship, Youth Apprenticeship

DELIVERY MODALITY

Community-based

TYPICAL DURATION

Long-term

SCHOOL-BASED TIMING

In-school, Summer

COMPENSATION TYPE

Paid, Unpaid

STAKEHOLDERS SERVED

Educators, Employers, Network Membership For Schools

LANGUAGE SUPPORT

English Only

TARGETED POPULATIONS

Female Learners

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

CAREER CLUSTERS ALIGNMENT

Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Arts, Entertainment, & Design, Construction, Digital Technology, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, Financial Services, Healthcare & Human Services, Hospitality, Events, & Tourism, Management & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Sales, Public Service & Safety, Supply Chain & Transportation

FUNDING MODEL

School Budgets, Grants, Earned Revenue, Philanthropy

SIMILAR PROVIDERS

Craft Education

Nationwide

National

crafteducation.com

Craft enables fund braiding across government resources– eg, Pell/Title IV, WIOA, CTE/Perkins, SAEF/apprenticeship, etc.– to develop earn-and-learn pathways for underserved learners.

Available in: Nationwide

grades 11–12 postsecondary

Launchpad Philly

Local

launchpadphilly.org

Launchpad Philly offers a learn-and-earn pathway that supports high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates as they prepare for careers in the tech sector. Students build technical and professional skills through a combination of college-level coursework, employer-led projects, paid work experiences, and apprenticeship-style training after graduation. The program blends school-based learning, hands-on challenges, and paid opportunities that help young people transition into living-wage digital careers.

grades 11–12 postsecondary

Boston Private Industry Council

Local

bostonpic.org

The Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) is the city’s workforce development board and a school-to-career intermediary that connects students and job seekers to meaningful career pathways. Partnering with Boston Public Schools, employers, community organizations, and higher education institutions, the PIC helps young people explore careers, secure paid work experiences, and transition successfully to postsecondary education and employment. For adults, the PIC strengthens the workforce system, expands access to training, and aligns employer needs with talent pipelines. Through these efforts, the PIC works to build a more inclusive, skilled, and economically vibrant Boston where residents can advance and employers can thrive.

grades 9–10 grades 11–12