Registered Apprenticeship Programs
in Expanded Learning
What is an apprenticeship?
Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) are industry-driven, high-quality pathways through which employers can develop their workforce from within their organization. Apprentices are paid employees who receive on-the-job training and mentorship. At the same time, apprentices pursue higher education, earning a free, transferable credential that opens the door to higher-paid positions with greater responsibilities in expanded learning and related fields.
“Apprenticeships are an affordable and effective way to reduce the state’s teacher shortage.”
- Randi Wolfe and Vince Stewart in CalMatters
join the movement
Individual Program Development
Interested in launching a registered apprenticeship program? PCY can coach you through the process. Contact Nieka Bright, our Registered Apprenticeship Programs Consultant, to learn more.
Professional Learning Community
The RAP Crew is a new, informal, open-invitation network for emerging and experience practitioners to build and strengthen their registered apprenticeship programs in expanded learning.
This monthly meeting fosters collaboration, encourages innovation and creative thought partnership to develop, implement, and sustain high-quality apprenticeship programs.
Join us on Zoom the second Monday of every month from 2-3 PM!
Contact Nieka Bright, RAPs Coach, to learn more about our apprenticeship work.
current projects
PCY has grown our role as an apprenticeship intermediary by facilitating partnerships, coordinating stakeholders, providing coaching and technical assistance, and securing and brokering start-up and sustainability resources and funding.
We are also leveraging our unique history and role working at the intersection of policy and practice by promoting apprenticeships as an effective solution to address the state’s educator recruitment and retention challenges, raising awareness and recognition of the expanded learning workforce, and identifying and advancing policy and system recommendations to increase equitable pathways for the expanded learning workforce.
PCY provides coordination support and technical assistance to the Expanded Learning Program Leader Registered Apprenticeship Program, a partnership between Girls Inc. of Alameda County, Berkeley City College, and ECEPTS. Launched in February 2023, it is the first registered apprenticeship program of its kind in the expanded learning field. Apprentices earn 48 college units or an AA Degree in Child & Adolescent Development and an AA in Liberal Studies. They also receive wage increases, dedicated mentoring, professional development, and wrap-around supports. Over 50 apprentices have been served to date.
The San Francisco Beacon Initiative (SFBI) is working to launch a youth worker registered apprenticeship program to strengthen workforce pathways into and within the Beacon network. Beginning Fall 2024, SFBI will convene 7 community-based organizations, community college partners, city and county workforce agencies, and other stakeholders to develop a program model and implementation plan. PCY is providing coaching and advising to SFBI on the planning process and brokering relationships, expertise, and resources to fill gaps. The program, sponsored by ECEPTS, is anticipated to launch in fall 2025 and will support apprentices to receive a Youth Worker Certificate and an AA degree.
In partnership with Monterey County Office of Education Region 5 Expanded Learning Partnerships, PCY is facilitating a co-design process with 8 expanded learning providers in Monterey, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties to develop regionally aligned practices and standards as apprenticeship employers for the BRIDGE Program Teacher Aide Registered Apprenticeship Program (a collaboration between Cabrillo College, Hartnell College, and San Jose City College). The program is anticipated to launch in fall 2025. Apprentices will earn 32 college credits toward an AA degree.
PCY supported Woodcraft Rangers in cultivating relationships with critical stakeholders and in securing a California Apprenticeship Initiative grant. Woodcraft Rangers’ Together Rising Los Angeles Apprenticeship Program, sponsored by ECEPTS, launched in fall 2024. Apprentices earn two Teacher Certificates, an AA in Early Childhood Education for Transfer, and an AA in Child and Adolescent Development for Transfer.
Watch this video about our apprenticeship program with Girls Inc. of Alameda County, Berkeley City College, and ECEPTS.
How does this strategy address workforce challenges in the expanded learning field?
For those planning to work in education, an apprenticeship program can offer on-the-job training and clear wage increases while gaining experience working with children and youth, coursework aligned to an education pathway, and important skills needed to advance in a career in education or other youth-serving work. Following the successful model of Early Care and Education apprenticeships pioneered by Early Care and Education Pathways to Success (ECEPTS), PCY promotes apprenticeship programs that meet the unique needs of the expanded learning workforce - many of who are women of color, young adults, multilingual learners, and first-generation college students. Apprenticeship programs must embed wrap-around supports such as accessible tutoring, cohort-based learning, responsive instructors, and intentional mentoring and supports to help early expanded learning professionals navigate college, career, and life.
RESOURCES
partners
We appreciate the Irvine Foundation for including us in their Better Careers initiative and to ECEPTS for providing invaluable support and partnership.