Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

California Apprenticeship Summit (April 17)

As we prepare our students, especially our graduating seniors, to embark upon the next stages of their academic and professional journeys, I want to ensure that we connect students with the valuable opportunities provided by apprenticeship programs.

By supporting students to enroll in registered apprenticeship programs, we provide a powerful onramp to high-wage careers in local industries. Apprentices benefit from hands-on mentorship, real-world work experience, and a clear path to labor union membership.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/IndustryFS-Apprenticeship101-081623-508.pdf), 90 percent of apprentices who complete a registered apprenticeship program retain employment with an average salary of $80,000.

We invite you to join California Department of Education staff and a panel of experts on Wednesday, April 17, at 11 a.m. for the California Apprenticeship Summit in partnership with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. For more information and to RSVP, please visit the Google Form at http://tinyurl.com/2024ApprenticeshipSummit.

Please share these resources with your secondary school administrators, guidance counselors, and college and career technicians:

• The California Department of Industrial Relations’ Find an Apprenticeship Program search tool at https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/das/aigstart.asp supports educators, students, and employers in locating registered apprenticeship programs by county and industry.
• ApprenticeshipUSA, at https://www.apprenticeship.gov/, is the U.S. Department of Labor’s one-stop shop for apprenticeship seekers, educators, and employers.

The California Department of Education’s College and Career Transition Division (CCTD) is available to support local educational agencies and schools in efforts to provide high-quality opportunities for students as they establish their careers and engage in postsecondary planning. Please email CCTD@cde.ca.gov or call 916-445-2652 for direct assistance from the CCTD team.

Thank you for everything you do to support our students in becoming self-sufficient, lifelong learners.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction