INFOGRAPHIC: Visualizing the Youth Apprentice's Journey

Youth apprenticeship is a proven education and workforce strategy, but it can be difficult to explain succinctly how it “works”—especially to students, families, educators, and employers who are unfamiliar with the model. To help address this common challenge, The Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) has created a new infographic that illustrates the components and sequence of a typical youth apprenticeship program—including the many options available to young people at the conclusion of the program.

As the infographic shows, students typically start youth apprenticeship programs in 11th or 12th grade. Over multiple years, youth apprentices complete paid, on-the-job learning under the mentorship of a skilled employee, earn transferable credit for college-level coursework, and complete their high school diplomas.

After completing a high-quality youth apprenticeship program, students are well-prepared for multiple postsecondary options. They can launch their careers armed with valuable industry experiences and knowledge. They can enroll full-time in a degree program and build upon the credits they have earned through their apprenticeship. Or, they can continue working part-time while continuing their education—often with financial support from their employers.

Of course, not every high-quality youth apprenticeship program will match exactly the three-year model depicted in this infographic, and that’s okay. This infographic is designed to offer a prototypical model of what a high-quality youth apprenticeship program could look like, rather than a prescription for design. Its purpose is to help demystify how youth apprenticeship programs typically structure students’ learning, and to address common questions about how youth apprenticeship works in practice. Through it, PAYA aims to provide a useful tool to the many cities, states, and regions working to improve awareness of and access to high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for high school-age youth.

We encourage you to share this infographic throughout your networks!

To learn more about the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship visit: www.newamerica.org/paya.

Check out the infographic in new tab or download it here.

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