Earn While You Learn
Brush High School's Earn While You Learn program allows students to gain real-world work experience, earn a paycheck, AND receive high school credit—all at the same time. This innovative program connects classroom learning to actual employment, helping students build professional skills, explore career interests, and start earning income while still in high school.
How It Works
Students secure employment with local employers and earn high school credit for their work experience. You're not choosing between school and work—you're integrating both to accelerate your readiness for life after graduation.
Get Paid, Earn Credit, Build Your FutureThe workplace competencies students develop through employment—professionalism, time management, communication, problem-solving—are essential across all industries.
Program Benefits
Connect to Your Future
Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal
Through participation in Earn While You Learn, students work toward earning the Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal—a credential that verifies you have the professional, academic, and technical skills employers seek. This seal appears on a student's high school diploma and transcript, signaling to colleges and employers career-readiness.
The Ohio Means Jobs framework assesses:
- Professional Skills: Communication, teamwork, critical thinking, work ethic
- Technical Skills: Industry-specific competencies gained through employment
- Academic Skills: Applied knowledge in real-world contexts
Connection to Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Earn While You Learn is an excellent complement to Brush's Registered Pre-Apprenticeship pathways in Healthcare, Hospitality, IT, and Financial Services. Here's how they work together:
- Pre-Apprenticeship provides the foundation: Students gain industry-specific classroom instruction and initial work-based learning experiences
- Earn While You Learn extends the experience: Students apply those skills in sustained employment, earning both credit and income
- Combined benefits: Graduate with a state-registered Pre-Apprenticeship credential, Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal, verified work experience, AND references from employers
Example Pathway
- Complete Healthcare Pre-Apprenticeship coursework and initial work experiences
- Secure employment at a local healthcare facility (hospital, clinic, long-term care)
- Earn While You Learn: Work 15-20 hours/week, earn high school credit, build toward Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal
- Graduate with Pre-Apprenticeship certificate, work experience, and direct pathway to registered apprenticeship or college program
Is This the Right Program?
Students should consider Earn While You Learn if they:
- Need or want to earn income during high school
- Are responsible and can balance work with academic commitments
- Want to graduate with real work experience on their resume
- Are interested in exploring career fields through employment
- Value earning while learning rather than waiting until after graduation
- Want to build financial independence and workplace skills
Important Considerations
Students should carefully review the following important considerations before choosing Earn While You Learn:
- Time management is critical: Students must balance work hours with academic responsibilities
- Transportation: Students will need reliable transportation to/from work
- Work permits: Ohio requires work permits for students under 18; school will assist with this process
- Academic eligibility: Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to participate
Next Steps
Students ready to enter the Earn While You Learn Program should see their counselor to:
- Learn about eligibility requirements and credit options
- Understand how to document work hours for credit
- Connect with career coaches who can help them find employment
- Explore how Earn While You Learn fits with Pre-Apprenticeship or other programs
- Get assistance with work permits and employer coordination
- Learn more about Ohio's career readiness initiatives
- Explore young worker resources and protections from the U.S. Department of Labor
Use the BLS Career Exploration tool to research specific careers within each pathway.