Apprenticeships as a viable path to economic freedom

For so many of us, we believe that college is essential to earning a decent living. What if we were wrong? What if it is true for some, but not for those that are historically under-served? I was part of the movement when I worked in K-12 education to make sure all of our students were on a path to a 4-year college. We said education was the great equalizer, but with rising tuition costs, lack of job readiness and limited opportunities, college graduates are literally paying the price of the "college for all" movement.

Over the past several years as the CT Teacher Residency Program director, I have seen how having a regular paycheck and gaining the skills to succeed can launch a person into economic freedom and success much faster in today's world. Apprenticeships do just that. A typical apprenticeship requires being employed in the industry, having on-the-job training and mentoring, participating in related technical instruction, and having opportunities for wage increases as you advance your skills. In education, apprenticeships have been around for just a couple of years, but in other trade areas and outside of the US, apprenticeships are a critical way to attract and train a skilled workforce.

The "earn while you learn" path of apprenticeships is gaining traction in the education sector, but with mixed reviews. It can be confusing path for prospective apprentices, a time consuming compliance exercise for employers and an expensive proposition. To learn more about apprenticeships as a viable option for our youth and workforce, check out this podcast from "Class Disrupted" with Diane Tavenner and Michael Horner (The Future of Education) and guest, Ryan Craig, who has a new book entitled Apprentice Nation: https://youtu.be/mQ09uiNwxpw.

I know I'll be looking into the scale-able models that exist and how Equate Education can uncomplicate the work as a a means to support and grow apprenticeship as a solid pathway for educators and other industries across our nation!

Happy listening to you!