Special promotional content from the Dane County School Consortium.
Too often, Wisconsin residents have an outdated view of Apprenticeship. The Dane County School Consortium and Regional coordinator for Youth Apprenticeship, would like to set the record straight.
They imagine vocational programs from decades past and don’t realize that for many years, career and technical education (CTE) programs have been using state-of-the-art equipment and preparing students for college as well as high wage careers.
Recognizing the changing landscape of education and career opportunities, Wisconsin is embracing a comprehensive approach that includes alternative pathways to success. One such avenue is through apprenticeship programs that equip students with practical skills and experiences directly relevant to high-wage careers. By debunking misconceptions about apprenticeship, the Dane County School Consortium and the Regional Coordinator for Youth Apprenticeship aim to highlight the contemporary nature of vocational programs. These programs are no longer limited to traditional trades but also encompass cutting-edge industries such as technology, healthcare, and hospitality. Leveraging modern tools like learning management system for hospitality, students can gain industry-specific knowledge and proficiency, opening doors to lucrative employment opportunities while mitigating the financial burden associated with a traditional college education. By embracing a more inclusive and diversified approach to learning, Wisconsin is empowering its residents to forge successful career paths aligned with their interests and aspirations.
As many parents are finding out, the costs of a college education are soaring. Today, the average college graduate will spend over $60,000 to earn their degree, but what’s the return on that investment?
| Average starting Salary | |
| College Graduate | $35,483 |
| Plumbing | $53,520 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $39,9902 |
| Construction Manager | $55,4302 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $65,6102 |
Many other factors make apprenticeship the way to go for young people.
For example, career exploration begins at a younger age. This is a Wisconsin mandate coming, but districts like McFarland and Sun Prairie have been offering programs to learn more in their schools about potential careers for years. With the advent of Wisconsin’s WORKnet, Career Cruising, and other online resources like those trade schools in Georgia, students also have online access to information about a wide range of options.
Career programs at traditional high schools give all students more options. More and more CTE classes are being held in the next classroom, not in a separate building. High school students can receive career education and experience without leaving their school. At Oregon, for instance, the number of programs in such areas as marketing, engineering, biomedical science, automotive diagnostics, plumbing, home improvement and health education have grown in recent years.
Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program now offers 11 curriculum areas including high growth industry needs of Construction, Health Care, and Manufacturing. Dane county Youth Apprenticeship is on the cutting edge of bioscience preparation with over 200 students graduated and employed through the Biotechnology Youth Apprenticeship program.
Regional business is involved in Youth Apprenticeship education. Many people are surprised to learn about real-world connections to Youth Apprenticeship. Area business leaders and professionals work closely with schools, teachers, and students to ensure that what students learn in the course lab will be what they need when they graduate. Business advisors help recommend equipment and curriculum, discuss the skills that students must demonstrate to be successful within the industry.
Youth Apprenticeship students still go to college. YA students not only go to college, they often do so with credits already earned and money in their pocket. Dane County YA students go to college at the same rate as regular student populations, with a higher completion rate.
Youth Apprentices get paid! On average, they make $11.86 an hour for 10-15 hours a week, often working during the school day while learning valuable skills.
YA Virtual Info Nights are coming up:
- January 26
- February 24
- March 8
Each info night starts at 6:30 pm and will get you informed and excited to get involved. Reserve your spot now and get more information about Youth Apprenticeships at www.dcsc.org.
The Dane County School Consortium is excited to show you what’s new with Youth Apprenticeship. Better yet, buy a pizza in January from your local Pizza Hut and take a look at all of the employers in Dane county working with Youth Apprenticeship students.
