Southeastern Wisconsin education consortiums will receive a share of state Youth Apprenticeship grants totaling $2.2 million to help better prepare students for in-demand technical jobs.
The allocation of the grant dollars was announced today by Gov. Scott Walker and Reggie Newson, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
About 2,500 Wisconsin high school students who are part of 32 regional consortiums will benefit from the funds during the upcoming school year, according to a press release issued by state officials.
“Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program is a key talent development strategy that prepares students for postsecondary education and employment success,” Newson said. “It is a nationally recognized work-based learning model that allows students to explore high-demand careers and transition from academics to the workforce while earning college credit, state skill certification, and real world work experience.”
The Youth Apprenticeship program, which was first authorized by state statute in 1991, enables high school students to attend classes and receive on-the-job training in specific occupations for one or two years. Students who see through the program earn a completion certificate and have the potential to receive technical college credit. They may also graduate ready to enter an entry-level position on their occupational career path of their choice.
During the 2014-15 school year, Youth Apprenticeship grants fueled work-based learning at close to 1,800 businesses across 10 career clusters. More than 2,500 students took part in the programming with manufacturing, agriculture and hospitality ranking among the most popular occupation tracks. Youth participants collected an average wage of $10.38 per hour.
Last year’s graduation rate for eligible youth apprentices was 84 percent, and 76 percent of the two-year graduates were given employment opportunities.
Among the education consortiums being awarded funds this school year are:
*GPS Education Partners, Waukesha, $151,271
*Waukesha County School-to-Work Partnership, Waukesha, $113,789
*Milton-Edgerton School-to-Work Partnership, Milwaukee, $51,124
*South Shore Suburban Consortium, Milwaukee, $23,207
*CESA 1, Milwaukee, $17,976
*Gateway District Youth Apprenticeship Consortium, Kenosha, $16,444
*Northwest Career and Education Partnership, Racine, $14,476
