INSTRUCTIONAL
INFORMATION

This is general information about Registered Apprenticeship.

 

HELPING
STUDENTS

Registered Apprenticeship isn’t the typical route for students to learn career skills. It's an option of choice that allows students to obtain post-secondary education and training without incurring crippling student debt.

people-2557396_1920
Photo of a carpenters working together

POST
SECONDARY

Community Colleges, Technical Colleges & Universities 

There are hundreds of academic partnerships with two- and four-year colleges that offer associates and bachelors degrees in conjunction with Registered Apprenticeship certificates across the country.

In Kansas, college departments collaborate with local industry partners to customize certificate and/or degree programs that will best meet industry educational and training needs.  These programs may include employer-specific courses as well as an integration into mainstream college work. These programs actively involve local employers in the educational process, including recruiting, selection, curriculum development, and related work experience.

SECONDARY

School-to-Registered Apprenticeship programs are an innovative business and education partnership that prepares high school students for challenging careers in Kansas' leading industries (public or private CTE programs).

Kansas Registered Apprenticeship staff partner with local businesses throughout the state and with statewide business and industry associations to identify the competencies needed in the workplace. Local businesses (sponsors) hire students and provide workplace mentors to teach the work-related competencies. High schools and technical colleges provide specific related technical instruction for the youth apprentice.

Youth apprentices graduate from high school with marketable skills and valuable work experience in addition to advanced credits in community colleges, technical colleges, and adult Registered Apprenticeship programs.  Grade point averages typically improve for youth apprentices over the course of the program. Nationally, more than 75% of youth apprentice graduates enroll in a community college, technical college, and/or university after graduation. All youth apprentice graduates who continue with a Registered Apprenticeship program maintain employment.

business-3167295_1920

SCHOOL TO
REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP

The School-to-Registered Apprenticeship (STRA) Initiative connects high school students’ knowledge and skills acquired in their school’s KSDE-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) program to an employer’s Registered Apprenticeship training.  

STRA programs are formally Registered Apprenticeship programs that allow students to begin their chosen career pathway training while still in high school.  As a high school student completing graduation requirements and taking CTE classes, an employed STRA student receives part-time. on-the-job training as an apprentice/employee from a Registered Apprenticeship sponsor/employer.

Many Registered Apprenticeship sponsors partner with Kansas community and technical colleges to provide the required Related Technical Instruction for their training program. STRA offers an exceptional opportunity for high school youth to bridge high school and CTE learning into their highly specialized, on-the-job learning and career pursuits.

STRA
BENEFITS

  • School-to-Registered Apprenticeship could prevent the need for overwhelming student loan debt.  For the STRA student, classroom instruction begins in high school and continues after high school graduation as a full-time business employee.  Expenses for the Related Technical Instruction are often paid for by the employer and delivered by community or technical colleges, on-line instruction, vendors and contractors or apprenticeship training centers.
  • School-to-Registered Apprenticeship permits participation of anyone under 18 years old.  Traditional Registered Apprenticeship programs require that applicants be a minimum of 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma. The STRA program allows high school students who are at least 16 years old to participate (with parental consent).
  • School-to-Registered Apprenticeship accelerates the attainment of necessary skills and training.  While in high school, STRA participants work and take Related Technical Instruction classes that apply toward program completion to further streamline the seamless transition between high school and the workforce.
  • School-to-Registered Apprenticeship links hands-on experiences with classroom instruction.  Registered Apprenticeship programs are the only formal, nationally recognized technical education and training programs that combine both classroom instruction and worksite training. School-to-Registered Apprenticeship programs are formal Registered Apprenticeship programs allowing students to begin acquiring career and technical skills while still in high school.

To participate in a School-to-Registered Apprenticeship Program, talk to your CTE instructor.  Kansas Apprenticeship Consultants can help your school district get involved.