The Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) is seeking public comment on the development of a California Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program. As college tuition continues to increase, many younger people are seeking alternative pathways to gain meaningful employment and avoid the financial burden of student loan debt. Youth apprenticeships offer an attractive option for those who want to gain hands-on experience and earn a living while learning valuable skills in their chosen field. Developing apprenticeships for both in-school and out-of-school youth is a priority for DAS. Two key components include the convening of the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee (CYAC), as well as the $20 million in funding allocated to the California Youth Apprenticeship Grant (CYAG) Program in FY 2022-2023. DAS has been empowered to deploy CYAG, and to develop this grant program to serve opportunity youth, DAS is seeking public comment through July 14, 2023.
The objective of CYAG is to create pathways for opportunity youth to access pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in sectors across the economy. Opportunity youth are people aged 16 to 24 who are at risk of disconnection or are disconnected from the education system and might be unemployed, unhoused, in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or criminal legal systems, living in concentrated poverty, or facing barriers to labor market participation. Through this grant program, services will be delivered principally through collaborative, mission-driven, community-based organizations with experience in providing services to opportunity youth. For further insight on the framing of the grant as articulated in SB 191, visit the CYAG webpage.
The California Youth Apprenticeship Committee (CYAC) was established by the legislature through SB-191 with the goal to expand youth apprenticeship opportunities across the state. Comprised of 19 members representing youth, youth-serving organizations, labor, employers of youth, K-12 schools, community colleges, and the public workforce system, the CYAC is tasked with developing guiding principles for CYAG, creating clear definitions for youth and high school apprenticeships, and offering insight into expanding youth apprenticeship in California. The committee aims to address the needs of young people seeking structured and affordable pathways to good careers, while also providing businesses with a new way to cultivate a skilled and diverse young workforce that can compete as the economy changes. At the June 26 public meeting hosted via Zoom, DAS will present the framework of this new grant program to CYAC members and invite public comment. To join this meeting, please visit the CYAC public meeting page.
Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs offer a promising earn-and-learn pathway into a career in a variety of sectors. By investing in these programs, California is creating a stronger and more diverse workforce, better equipped to tackle the challenges of the future. We look forward to hearing from the apprenticeship community and from youth-serving organizations regarding how DAS can best deploy this new grant program to invite and support more opportunity youth to access these life-changing opportunities.