National Fund for Workforce Solutions Joins New America to Launch New Initiative to Expand Youth Apprenticeship
Leading national organizations launch the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) to bridge gaps between high school, college and well-paying jobs
Washington, D.C., October 26, 2018 — Today, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions joins New America and other leading organizations from the education, workforce and policy sectors to launch the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA), a multi-year initiative that will support efforts in states and cities to expand access to high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for high school-aged youth. Led by the Center on Education & Skills at New America, the partnership includes, in addition to the National Fund, Advance CTE, CareerWise Colorado, Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship Program, Education Strategy Group, JFF, the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, and the National Governors Association.
Youth apprenticeship is a strategy for building a more inclusive economy and repairing the increasingly fragile link between American education and economic mobility. High-quality youth apprenticeship connects student learning and job preparation with the talent needs of industry, reduces the student debt burden, and ultimately bridges the gaps between high school, college, and well-paying jobs.
Recognizing this potential, PAYA has been formed to improve public understanding of youth apprenticeship, to generate and disseminate better information about what is necessary for its success, and to support innovative organizations working to develop high-quality programs that can be scaled and replicated to serve students, employers, and communities alike. Over the next four years, PAYA will convene experts and partners, support a community of practitioners, publish research, and provide grants and direct assistance to promising youth apprenticeship programs in cities and states across the United States.
“Shoring up the link between education, economic opportunity, and social mobility is critical for renewing the American promise. Youth apprenticeship is a time-tested model perfectly-suited for employers who need skilled workers and young people who need affordable pathways through college and the skills, experience, and networks that come with a real job,” said Anne-Marie Slaughter, president and CEO of New America. “The Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship is a brilliant combination of thinking, action, and broad-based partnership; New America is delighted to help build a network of innovators committed to bringing the many benefits of youth apprenticeship to communities across the country.”
Youth apprenticeship links the education and training needs of youth with the talent demands of employers, through mutually beneficial partnerships across schools, industry and communities. Through these partnerships, students complete high school, start their postsecondary education at no cost, get paid work experience alongside a mentor, and start along a path that broadens their options for the future.
For employers, youth apprenticeship is a cost-effective talent strategy, as apprentices build skills to meet evolving business needs and develop into valued contributors to their bottom line.
“Every spring we hear about college admissions and who got accepted to what school. But about half of young people graduate from high school without job skills and without a plan to go to college,” explains Pamela Howze, director of work-based learning at the National Fund. “Apprenticeships are by no means new, but they are still a great way to help young people who don’t want to go to college, aren’t ready for college, or can’t afford college to gain in-demand skills that lead to good jobs.” Howze will support PAYA by providing technical assistance to selected grantees.
PAYA has been made possible by generous support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Ballmer Group, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Joyce Foundation, JP Morgan Chase & Co., and the Siemens Foundation.
To learn more about PAYA and how youth apprenticeship can unlock opportunity for both young people and employers, visit newamerica.org/paya and stay connected to the initiative’s progress following the #PAYA hashtag.
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About the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship
Created by New America, the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) is a multi-year, multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to assist innovative organizations around the country in developing robust youth apprenticeship programs that are scaled and replicated to serve students, employers, and communities alike. The Partnership is comprised of eight National Partner organizations: Advance CTE, CareerWise Colorado, Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships, Education Strategy Group, JFF, the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and the National Governors Association. PAYA is supported by funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Ballmer Group, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Joyce Foundation, JP Morgan Chase & Co., and the Siemens Foundation.
About New America
We are dedicated to renewing America by continuing the quest to realize our nation’s highest ideals, honestly confronting the challenges caused by rapid technological and social change, and seizing the opportunities those changes create.
About National Fund for Workforce Solutions
The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is a national network promoting economic opportunity and prosperous communities through investment and innovation. Based in Washington D.C., the National Fund partners with philanthropy, employers, workers, public and private community organizations, and more than 30 regional collaboratives to invest in skills, improve systems, and generate good jobs. The National Fund supports civic and business leaders in promoting evidence-based practices and policies that build shared prosperity. Learn more about the National Fund and its local partners at www.NationalFund.org.
