Student Learner Status
The Youth Apprenticeship program is sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Youth Apprentices receive special legal employment status that other students their age may not enjoy due to a designation called "student learner". "Student learners" may be able to operate equipment or do certain jobs that others may not. This status protects the student, employer, and school district and is one of the main reasons for encouraging students to enroll in the Youth Apprenticeship program.
Student Recognition
Students who participate in the Youth Apprenticeship program are considered the “best of the best”. Generally only about 5% of eligible students statewide participate in the program. This places the student in a strong position to be accepted into the program of their choice after graduation and looks very good on scholarship applications. It is not uncommon for Youth Apprentices to receive sponsorship to technical colleges where some, if not all, of their tuition is paid for by the employer.
Students receive honors chords they can wear at graduation and keep as recognition, along with a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency issued by the Department of Workforce Development. CESA 3 Youth Apprenticeship Coordinators frequently attend awards ceremonies to present this recognition to the Youth Apprentice students.
CTE Incentive Grants
School districts can claim funds from DPI for students who successfully complete the Youth Apprenticeship program and graduate with a regular high school diploma or a technical education high school diploma. Funding is limited to up to $1,000 per pupil and allocations are based on the money available divided by the number of applications received. In 2022, the Department of Workforce Development and Department of Public Instruction received a total of 9,317 claims from 298 school districts. 7,702 claims were eligible, resulting in a prorated allocation of $843.93 per student out of a total of $6.5 million available. Your CESA 3 YA Coordinator can help your school with the process. Please note: These CTE Incentive Grants are not considered cost reimbursement grants; therefore, funds do not need to be spent by the end of fiscal year, nor do claims need to be made to DPI for spending.
Grade Report/ Student Credit
CESA 3 provides a Youth Apprenticeship grade report to each school twice a year at the end of each semester. This report will include a letter grade for each student. It is up to the local school district to determine if they wish to give the student a letter grade or a pass/fail grade. School districts must provide credit toward high school graduation for the youth apprenticeship-related instruction and the work-based learning component of the program. The amount of credit for each component is to be determined by the school district.
YA to RA Bridge - An introduction to Registered Apprenticeship
Registered (or adult) Apprenticeship is a post-secondary education, like a college or university. But there's a big difference. Apprentices learn only a portion of their skills in a traditional classroom. They receive most of their training on-the-job, while working for an employer who pays a good wage. The employment is the primary requirement for an apprenticeship - an apprenticeship must exist in order for the apprentice to be trained. The classroom instruction is usually provided through the Wisconsin Technical College system. CESA 3 can help your student bridge from a Youth Apprenticeship to a Registered Apprenticeship if the student chooses.
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