This is your monthly AAI grantee community update with upcoming events and new resources.
Upcoming NGA Events:
AAI Learning Network Call: July 12, 2-3 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. If you have anything you’d like to share or any questions, please email kbaddour@nga.org.
Apprenticeship Resources:
- Expanding Apprenticeship – Return on Investment (Workforce GPS): Apprenticeship can offer businesses cost savings when compared to other workforce development models they might use, resulting in a Return on Investment (ROI) for every dollar that businesses invest in their apprenticeship programs. This page offers tools, resources, and reports from the U.S. and other countries on the return on investment (ROI) that businesses are receiving on apprenticeship.
- Apprenticeship Partnership Models in Action (Workforce GPS): Partnerships are an integral component of successful and strategically sustainable apprenticeship programs. Registered Apprenticeship programs frequently feature mutually beneficial collaboration among many partners, including: business, labor, education, workforce, and other community organizations. This resource illustrates three distinct models of partners performing leadership roles in successful apprenticeship programs.
- JFF Releases Recovery Playbook for Impact Employers (Jobs for the Future): AAI grantee Jobs for the Future (JFF) has released a new tool to support action among Impact Employers, companies that prioritize inclusive economic growth and equitable economic advancement for their employees alongside traditional business performance.
- Department of Education Releases Higher Ed Handbook (U.S. Department of Education): The U.S. Department of Education released Volume 3 of the ED COVID-19 handbook, which covers strategies for safe operations and addressing the impact of COVID-19 on higher education students, faculty, and staff.
- Inclusive Apprenticeship (Urban Institute): Inclusive apprenticeship programs—those that support and are designed to be inclusive of apprentices with disabilities—hold promise for improving long-term employment outcomes for participants. However, little is known about the prevalence and operations of inclusive apprenticeship programs. This report summarizes current information on experiences of people with disabilities in apprenticeship, drawing on the research literature, interviews with experts on inclusive apprenticeship, and administrative and survey data.
Apprenticeship in the News
- Apprenticeships Demand a Fresh Look From Employers in the Knowledge Economy (Entrepreneur): A dated image of apprenticeships is one reason why the practice has struggled to take off in the U.S. even as it has become a core part of employment and skills acquisition elsewhere. Apprenticeships are not just for manufacturing and other manual jobs; they are increasingly relevant for a wide range of service industries such as retail, technology and data analysis, to name a few. All employers should be looking at how they can structure apprenticeships as part of their skills-building and hiring toolkit.
- Lawmakers approve bills to increase apprenticeship programs in Michigan (ABC 12): On June 9, Michigan State Rep. Ben Frederick sponsored a bill that would allow for federal funding to be spent on more apprenticeship programs. The Michigan House and Senate both have approved the bill, so it goes to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her consideration.
- Surveying Apprenticeship Program Underway in Illinois (POB Online): A U.S. Department of Labor recognized apprenticeship, the Surveyor and Mapping Technician Training Program is a two-year undertaking for participants who work as a surveying technician while taking academic courses in surveying. The program commences with a surveying boot camp which serves as a skills lab to introduce basic instrumentation and processes. From there, apprentices begin their studies entailing 144 contact-hours of classes per year.
