FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IR # 96-21
Wednesday, May 22, 1996
CONTACT:
Louis Bonsignore
(415) 972-8835
Troy Swauger
(415) 972-8835
Pilot Milpitas Program to Boost Apprenticeship in State
Milpitas -- Students from Milpitas High School will be some of the
first in California to benefit from a pilot program designed to fast track
them into careers in the precision metal trades, announced Lloyd W. Aubry
Jr., director of the California Department of Industrial Relations.
The Department of Industrial Relations, working through its Division of
Apprenticeship Standards and in cooperation with Milpitas School District
and the adult education office, will kick off a unique program in Milpitas
today that will ultimately bring apprenticeship programs to local high school
students. With today's signing of a memorandum of understanding between
the school district, the adult education office and the Department of Industrial
Relations, the local school district becomes one of the first School-to-Apprenticeship
sites in California. The apprenticeship program will focus on occupations
such as highly-skilled machinists, and tool and dye makers.
Called Schools to Career/Apprenticeships Program, the plan will provide
students with valuable knowledge about careers that await them in California
and allow them early entry into career paths with formalized training and
education. With the average age of apprentices statewide currently at 28
years, high school and adult education students who successfully participate
in this program can expect to develop the skills that will make them eligible
for higher paying journey-level jobs at a much earlier age.
"This is a rare opportunity for our young people to have access to
career paths that were never open before," Director Aubry said. "What
we can do with this joint effort between our Division of Apprenticeship
Standards and dozens of schools is to open doors into several areas for
these students. This goal is now within reach here in Milpitas as a result
of the hard work and dedicated efforts from our partners."
The pilot is a by-product of Gov. Pete Wilson's School-to-Career program
developed by his task force last year. It will focus on building a precision
metal trades profession for students from ninth-grade through completion
of the career path. While in high school, students start the program on
a part-time basis. Once finished with school they will move into their full-time
apprenticeship program.
Career path completion includes at least one of the following: Successful
completion of the apprenticeship program, and/or completion of a four-year
college or university degree.
"The pilot program is the result of an eight-month planning schedule
by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards," Aubry said. "The
Milpitas adult education office has promised that its strong employer linkage
is a surefire avenue to the program's success."
Though there are no plans for any direct outlay of state funding of the
program, Division of Apprenticeship Standards will provide technical assistance
to the Milpitas district superintendent of schools and the adult education
district to ensure the successful completion of students involved in the
program.
Subsequent launching of the Schools to Career/Apprenticeships Program are
scheduled for Auburn, Torrance, Stockton and Redding. The apprenticeship
programs will concentrate on the culinary, automotive repair, health care,
and manufacturing industries.
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