Happy Youth Apprenticeship Week!

Youth apprenticeships are gaining attention across the country as a means to engage high school students with paid learning opportunities that offer potential paths to  in-demand, skilled trades and careers. Apprenticeships are one part of a broader system of career connected learning opportunities that can include dual-enrollment programs, internships, work-based learning, certificates, and credentials, among others.

Formally registered apprenticeships (RAPs), are more than just on-the-job training — they include required components of instruction, mentorship, training and credentialing. By becoming registered, either as a federally recognized or state recognized program, a registered apprenticeship can help the provider gain access to federal and state supports, including workforce training funds, tuition assistance, tax incentives, and wraparound services.

As one of the most formalized systems of work-based learning, apprenticeship can offer paid, well-supported, and meaningful pathways to in-demand careers; but  the process into apprenticeships often comes with some of the highest barriers to entry. High school students seeking an apprenticeship may be required to pass certain courses, such as Algebra I or II, pass tests and assessments, prepare for and complete interviews and develop and refine their resumes. Moreover, unless apprenticeship opportunities are presented to youth and families, many will not know the career pathway exists, much less seek it out.

Afterschool and summer learning programs often act as key partners in this work to thoughtfully scaffold youth development in preparation for increased work-based learning opportunities, such as registered apprenticeships.

How afterschool programs support youth apprenticeship

Early awareness: For youth and families to be willing to enter apprenticeship pathways they have to be aware they exist, feel they are welcoming spaces, and feel confident they can succeed. A comprehensive career pathway system which begins early can partner with afterschool and summer programs as young as elementary school to introduce youth to job opportunities in their area through hands-on learning, site visits, career days, and other tools to increase familiarity and confidence. Programs may also bring in employees from the companies sharing the same background of the youth to talk about their pathways to career. Early awareness can also help in finding entry-points to non-traditional careers. Research suggests middle school youth may already have strongly formed ideas of which jobs are and aren’t for them based on their identities.  Reframing these preconceived notions of which careers are for whom as early as elementary school can allow more youth to envision themselves in a variety of roles, such as encouraging more boys to explore nursing as a career or girls to be interested in electrical engineering.

Youth preparedness: Because apprenticeship programs often require a number of conditions for entry, such as resume preparation, additional coursework, communication and collaboration skills, financial literacy, time management and other skills, community partners can be beneficial in supporting the needs of youth. This can be done before they enter an apprenticeship program with specific academic tutoring, nurturing the development of “soft skills,” such as communication and conflict resolution, and providing them with access to supportive adults who can serve as mentors before, during, and after apprenticeships.

Youth mentorship: Youth thrive when they have caring adults they can trust. While apprenticeship pairs youth with a workplace mentor, this relationship can be more technically or workplace-minded. Afterschool programs can train and prepare adult workforce staff to work with a diverse high school workforce in ways that make the experience positive and educational for all involved. Additionally, youth also are likely to need adults outside the workplace they can turn to for questions, concerns, and workforce support. Youth who may be demographically underrepresented in the workplace itself can reach back to their afterschool program to process their experiences in the work environment with their peers and adult mentors. These adults will also be available to the youth whether they determine to continue with their apprenticeship placement or decide to choose a different path, allowing the youth more freedom to truly make the best choices for their futures.

Whole-child development: Youth in school are still developing mentally, physically, and socially. Youth involvement in afterschool programs while engaged in apprenticeship pathways can help young people to access places to decompress, be social, engage in physical activity and the arts, and continue to develop the creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that jobs of the future will demand, regardless of whether the student pursues the next steps in the career path of their specific apprenticeship. While school helps youth connect with academic success and apprenticeship supports career success, afterschool programs serving as intermediaries can connect across academic and career success and help the youth focus on both as well as their holistic wellness as they progress towards adulthood.

Wrap-around supports: Youth in school in apprenticeship programs may have other barriers to participation, such as health concerns, housing, transportation, and/or family commitments. Afterschool programs that can provide workarounds to these barriers  ensure apprenticeship programs are accessible to all interested youth.

Support youth in pathways to youth development careers: Working in afterschool and summer programs youth have the potential to access apprenticeships toward careers in Youth Development Work. This could look like a more generalized Youth Development Practitioner Credential or programs like Michigan’s CTE pathway connected Youth Development Credential Pathway which additionally translates into college credits in afterschool and teacher education programs.

How can more afterschool programs, decision-makers, and supporters get involved?

Here are some more opportunities and initiatives to be aware of:

1. The Partnership for Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) through New America is leading the work to get a definition of youth apprenticeship for in-school youth recognized. They also have a great tool in their Youth Apprenticeship Quality Assessment Tool and Protocol.
    
2. The Department of Labor is currently working through a public rulemaking process for National Apprenticeship System Enhancements with consideration of more aligned systems between high school career and technical education and formalized apprenticeship opportunities.
    
3. Legislative proposals such as the Youth Workforce Readiness Act could be one way to consider how student access to workforce systems require thinking, planning, and programming across the age continuum. Currently, the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R. 6655) does not include language from the Youth Workforce Readiness Act, but does include some other important advances for youth and career-connected learning. A bipartisan National Apprenticeship Act of 2023 legislation has also been introduced which supports increased funds and systems alignment in youth apprenticeship.
    
4. Innovation grants such as the Out-of-School Time Career Pathways grants or Perkins Career Connected High Schools also provide a good substrate for designing integrated systems. 
    
5. Federal investments in business and infrastructure that require a strong national workforce such as the Inflation Reduction Act for clean energy programs, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act may also provide opportunities for more youth apprenticeship opportunities. The National Governors Association provides a good summary of this work.

Big structural changes in the design of high schools are also advancing this work, including the ability to ensure students can earn credit for instructional or work related training afterschool and over the summer.

Any successful future for youth apprenticeships must include the voices of youth themselves. To ensure long term equity and impact, youth input will need to be included at each level of governance and implementation, from design and implementation to the evaluation and refinement.

With efforts to increase youth apprenticeships on the rise and afterschool programs already doing so much to support career-connected learning for youth while centering positive youth development and mentorship, there is great potential for enhanced collaborations between afterschool providers and industry looking to the future of their workforce.