The Future Ready Lab: Maintaining Students' Access to Internships during Times of Crisis.

This article focuses on the NAF Future Ready Lab, an innovative virtual internship model designed to expand access to meaningful, paid work-based learning experiences for high school students from underserved and diverse backgrounds, particularly economically disadvantaged, Black, and Latinx youth. Originating as an in-person group internship program, the Future Ready Lab pivoted to a fully virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic, overcoming barriers such as transportation, social distancing, and technology access by providing laptops and hotspots. The program, supported by partnerships among NAF (formerly National Academy Foundation), employers, and schools, demonstrated high intern satisfaction and skill development in areas critical to 21st-century careers, while addressing equity concerns through culturally competent facilitation and resource provision. The article concludes with recommendations for practice, research, and policy to enhance equitable access and quality of high school internships, emphasizing the importance of sustained partnerships and legislative support aligned with career and technical education goals.