Work-Based Learning Leadership and Investment for Field Training (WBL-LIFT) Grant

The Work-Based Learning Leadership and Investment for Field Training (WBL-LIFT) Grant is administered by the Iowa Department of Education as part of the state’s broader effort to strengthen career and technical education systems. This initiative is funded through Iowa’s Work-Based Learning Clearinghouse State Appropriation and is designed to address workforce development challenges by expanding the pipeline of qualified educators who can deliver high-quality work-based learning experiences. The program reflects the state’s strategic emphasis on aligning education with labor market needs and improving postsecondary readiness outcomes for students. The primary purpose of the WBL-LIFT Grant is to support Iowa school districts in recruiting, preparing, and retaining educators capable of leading and sustaining work-based learning programs. The grant prioritizes districts with a Work-Based Learning participation rate of 20 percent or lower, as identified in the Postsecondary Readiness Index. Applicants must demonstrate clear strategies to expand student access to work-based learning opportunities while also strengthening educator credentialing pathways and long-term workforce pipelines within their districts. Funding under this opportunity is intended to support a range of allowable activities tied to educator development. These include professional development, endorsement coursework, credentialing programs, and training aligned with specific authorizations such as the Multioccupations Endorsement, Work Experience Coordinator Endorsement, and Work-Based Learning Supervisor Authorization. Funds may also be used for broader educator support systems that enhance recruitment, preparation, and retention, provided these activities directly contribute to strengthening work-based learning program delivery. Eligibility is limited to Iowa school districts, which are expected to submit applications through the IowaGrants.gov system. As a competitive grant, applications are evaluated based on established criteria, including the strength and sustainability of proposed strategies, alignment with program goals, and the applicant’s capacity to expand educator access to credentialing and professional learning. Successful applicants must demonstrate how their proposed activities will contribute to both local program improvement and statewide capacity building. The application process requires submission through the designated state grants portal, with no separate pre-application phase identified. The final application deadline is June 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM. While the opportunity is noted as recurring, specific future cycle dates are not provided, indicating that similar opportunities may be offered annually or periodically based on state funding and program priorities. No explicit award announcement date or project performance period beyond the listed project date is specified in the available information. Program oversight is provided by a designated program officer, and applicants may direct questions to Jodie Smith, a Work-Based Learning and Intermediary Resource Consultant with the Iowa Department of Education. Contact is available via email and phone, ensuring applicants can seek clarification on program requirements, eligibility, and allowable uses of funds. The grant ultimately aims to strengthen educator capacity, improve student access to career-connected learning, and build sustainable systems that support long-term workforce readiness across Iowa.

Emphasize clear and sustainable strategies to expand work-based learning participation and educator credentialing pathways, particularly for districts with low participation rates.