News
Apprenticeship Agenda Advancing Nationally
Posted December 2014
US Secretary of Labor Tom Perez (second from right) and John Ladd, Administrator of Apprenticeship (center) at last week’s meeting of the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship
Quality training for America’s frontline workforce is making big strides, thanks to rare bipartisan leadership in Washington DC. Apprenticeship has emerged as the premier method for Americans to “earn while you learn” - especially in important frontline careers.
Much of this recent progress was reviewed by the Secretary of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (ACA) that had its first meeting with several new members last week in Washington DC. Among the 24 members of the new ACA is Brian J. Turner, Founding Executive Director of the Transportation Learning Center. Among the highlights, they examined:
* President Obama set a goal earlier this year to double the
number of Americans in quality registered apprenticeship
programs, from 375,000 to 750,000
* New support for apprenticeship has emerged in a number of
federal agencies over the last year. GI Bill benefits can now be
used by veterans for supplemental income support while they
are in registered apprenticeship programs. Low income
income support if they join a registered apprenticeship
program.
* The new Workforce Innovation and Opportunities ACT (WIOA)
passed by Congress in July with onyl seven dissenting votes in
the House and Senate combined. For the first time the new
WIOA recognizes registered apprenticeship programs as
pre-qualified training providers for Workforce grants through
State and Local Workforce Investment Boards, and it newly
requires positions for registered apprenticeship program leaders
on all Workforce Boards across the country.
The public transportation industry, working with the Transportation Learning Center, has had three national apprenticeship frameworks already approved by US DOL - for Bus and Rail Car Maintenance Technicians and for Transit Elevator-Escalator Technicians. Several other transit apprenticeships are currently in the pipeline. Through this work, public transportation is helping lead the drive for expanded quality apprenticeship in the United States.
