Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter Administrators:

Reminder of Event and Related Resources: California Apprenticeship Summit, 4/17 at 11.a.m.

The spring is a critical time to connect our high school students with postsecondary learning opportunities, and it is also a critical time to lay the groundwork for program expansion in our schools.

I hope you will join me tomorrow, in person or virtually, for an important event co-hosted by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and the California Department of Education (CDE) at the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, to highlight the importance of registered apprenticeship as a postsecondary path to lifelong learning and a competitive career.

What: California Apprenticeship Summit, hosted by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and the CDE.

When: Wednesday, April 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: In person at the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, 1231 I Street, Suite 303, Sacramento, and virtually on Zoom and Facebook Live.

This summit is to raise awareness of valuable apprenticeship options and career technical education pathways that connect California’s youth to high-wage, high-growth career opportunities. Panelists include leaders of the California Labor Federation, the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency, and the California Professional Firefighters, as well as teacher and student voices.

You are invited to join us in person or virtually. Please register via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0K6wKbRRShaA_z6i8P4fEw#/registration or watch the livestreamed event on the CDE Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CAEducation.

If you have any questions about tomorrow’s event, please email communications@cde.ca.gov.

According to the United States Department of Labor, 90 percent of apprentices who complete a Registered Apprenticeship program retain employment, with an average salary of $80,000. For more information about Registered Apprenticeship, check out the Department of Labor fact sheet at https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/IndustryFS-Apprenticeship101-081623-508.pdf.

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

• Contact information for all local affiliated Building Trades Councils and affiliated unions, who are vital partners for building apprenticeship programs in schools and local educational agencies (LEAs): https://cabuildingtrades.org/affiliations.
• The “Find an Apprenticeship Program” search tool provided by the California Department of Industrial Relations, which supports educators, students, and employers to locate registered apprenticeship programs by county and industry: https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/das/aigstart.asp.
• Apprenticeship.gov, at https://www.apprenticeship.gov, is the one-stop shop for apprenticeship seekers, educators, and employers provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The College and Career Transition Division (CCTD) at the CDE is available to support local education agencies and schools in efforts to provide high-quality opportunities for our students as they establish their careers and engage in postsecondary planning. Please contact 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 to become self-sufficient lifelong learners.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction