American Institute for Innovative Apprenticeship

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Community of Practice Update: February 2021

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This is your monthly AAI grantee community update with upcoming events and new resources.

 

Upcoming NGA Events:

  • AAI Learning Network Call: March 2, 3-4 P.M. EST: https://zoom.us/j/94532209241
    • This is a monthly opportunity for NGA Center to share updates with the AAI cohort and for the cohort to share current challenges and successes. On March’s call we will discuss employer engagement during the pandemic. If you have any examples of how your apprenticeship program is doing this or any questions, please email kbaddour@nga.org.

Announcements from Department of Labor:

  • USDOL Publishes Notice on Collection of Data about the Apprenticeship Evidence-Building Portfolio: The USDOL Chief Evaluation Office has published a notice in the February 2, 2021, Federal Register, requesting comments on nine proposed data collection instruments for the following Apprenticeship programs:
    • Scaling Apprenticeship Through Sector-Based Strategies grants;
    • Closing the Skills Gap grants;
    • Youth Apprenticeship Readiness grants; and,
    • Other USDOL investments.

The goal of this five-year study is to build evidence on apprenticeship models, practices, and partnership strategies in high-growth occupations and industries. Comments are due by April 5,2021.

  • USDOL Suspends IRAPs and Relaunches National Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (US DOL): On February 17, The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) announced several actions designed to accelerate apprenticeship expansion. The steps follow a Biden administration announcement. The Department will suspend its acceptance and review of new or pending applications for Standards Recognition Entities (SREs) in the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP). In addition, the department announced its intention to relaunch the federal Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship. These actions followed an Executive Order that President Biden signed on February 17, 2021, that revokes Executive Order 13801 and directs federal agencies to consider taking steps promptly to rescind any orders, rules, regulations, guidelines or policies implementing that order.

Apprenticeship Resources:

  • Delivering Apprenticeships Virtually (gov): This Apprenticeship.gov webpage features tools, information, and resources for delivering apprenticeship programs virtually, steps to consider when transitioning to virtual delivery, and promising practices from the field.
  • Counting U.S. Postsecondary and Secondary Credentials (Credential Engine): This new report from Credential Engine offers the most accurate and robust estimate of credentials across 16 categories – including both traditional degrees, certificates, certifications, licenses and apprenticeships, as well as non-traditional offerings such as badges. The report estimates that there are 967,734 unique credentials in the United States, and offers a details state-by-state count of credentials. This finding shows what many already knew: the credential landscape is vast – perhaps much larger than many imagined.
  • National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 Fact Sheet (House Committee on Education and Labor): During a time of record unemployment, the bipartisan National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships.

COVID-19 and Recovery Resources:

  • Department of Labor (DOL) COVID Guidance: COVID guidance for apprenticeship grants and contracts, including for the AAI cohort, is now published on DOL’s COVID webpage.
  • NGA State Roadmap for Workforce Recovery: To help Governors and states align short-term activities with longer-term economic and workforce recovery goals, NGA has compiled the experience, insights, and innovations from more than 100 state and industry leaders from 32 states that participated in a series of workshops into a State Roadmap for Workforce Recovery.

Equity Resources:

  • Creating an Equitable & Future-Focused Manufacturing Workforce with Apprenticeship (JFF): Join AAI grantee JFF and AFL-CIO Working for America Institute on Tuesday, March 16, from 1-4 pm EST, to learn more about how apprenticeship can help your manufacturing business prepare for tomorrow and succeed today. To learn more about the session and register, click here.

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