Calhoun, Gordon Central and Sonoraville High School students began the Youth Apprenticeship Program at the beginning of the school year, and many youth workers have continued working during the school holiday break.
Youth Apprenticeship is a student job-training program that allows high school seniors a training employment opportunity at businesses throughout Gordon County during the school year.
Launched in 1993, the Georgia Youth Apprenticeship Program is a part of a statewide school-to-work initiative. It is designed for high school student who want hands on learning in an occupational area at a worksite along with classroom instruction.
It counts as a one or two year elective program, which combines academic and technical with mentored, on-the-job-learning.
There are more than 20 work sites selected by the schools including, daycares, medical offices, local businesses and schools.
To participate in the work-based learning program, students have to apply for the program and have good grades. Once selected, all youth workers received preemployment training and skill sessions with work-based learning teachers at their schools in areas such as work awareness, values, job techniques, positive attitude toward work behavior and more.
With college approaching soon for many of these seniors, their teachers hope that their jobs will help them stand out on an application and help with admissions.
WBL teachers of the high school
All three high schools have WBL teachers, and each teacher says the Youth Apprentice Program will continue helping students prepare for the future.
Judy Bailey, Gordon Central High School’s Work-Based Learning teacher, says the apprenticeship program teaches students how to work.
“It allows the students to experience the world of work,” Bailey said. “It gives them an opportunity to apply the skills they learned in the classes while in school and make the connections between classwork and the real world.”
She said she wants her students to gain real world opportunities to use the skills they learned in the classroom.
Ginger House, the Calhoun High School Work-Based Learning teacher, says students are expected to handle the job and will also receive employer evaluation.
“The training plan list specific tasks to be learned and or the skill developed to be attained on the job,” House said. “The student is evaluated on the ‘training plan’ and their work ethic each six weeks.”
House says there are strict requirements to be apart of the program.
“The students placed in this program are seniors and must have an excellent attendance and discipline record,” House said. “They must have at least a B average and be recommended by at least three of their teachers.”
“In order to leave the school campus each day, they must have proven themselves to be trusted to go to work as expected,” she added.
Brandi Hayes of Sonoraville High School says employers can shape youth workers.
“Employers get the opportunity to take-in students at an early age, train them and mold their employees,” Hayes said.
They also don’t tolerate tardiness.
“Occasionally you’ll have issues with students not following through,” Hayes said. “I had a student that wasn’t there for a couple of days and I got a call from an employer.”
“In that situation it was just a matter of notification and she attempted to be there, but if there’s a problem it’s removal from the program,” added Hayes.
Work-based learning is the combination of school and work promoting the idea that not all learning happens within the walls of the classroom.
The apprentice program is one of the many programs offered at each high school, and, others included Career Related Education training through internships, job shadowing and other activities.
The YAP need-to-know:
- The Youth Apprenticeship Program (YAP) is a work-based learning program that includes the development of a detailed training plan between the employer and apprentice.
- Are apprentices paid workers? No, but there are many opportunities for students to obtain paid work after their internship hours at certain worksites.
- When do they work? Apprentices work during the school day and are allowed to leave campus.
- Do you have to have a car to be an apprentice? No, but most of the schools recommend that the student has transportation to get to work.
- How does a students get into the program? Students must excel in three areas: academics, school and workplace behavior and job performance. In addition, they must be a senior and have at least a B average and receive recommendations from three of their teachers.
- High school students earn credit and a letter grade for their apprenticeship hours. Each workplace has a mentor (someone who provides guidance and encouragement to students), student evaluations (done by an employer and will serve as part of the student’s grade) and professional portfolios.
- How are students placed at worksites? Students are placed through Worked Based Learning (WBL), a program that combines classroom learning with a student’s career goals. There is a minimum of 2,000 hours of on the job training.
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