Work-Based Learning Opportunities

ELIGIBILITY:

• Be enrolled in a public or private secondary school or an approved program leading to a General Equivalency Degree (GED)/High School Equivalency Degree (HSED); or
• Be enrolled in a home-based program or Charter School;
• Perform satisfactorily on the Wisconsin Pupil Assessment System or otherwise demonstrate the ability to attain the required skills; and
• Have participated in career exploration, guidance and/or education activities, which allow them to make an informed choice about their chosen career area

Local Consortiums must:

• Obtain approval from the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) for additional eligibility criteria
• NOT use a student's grade point average (GPA) as the sole reason to disqualify a student from enrolling in the program. The GPA must be viewed as part of a total assessment for applicants and not used as a screening tool.

APPLICATION:

• Local Consortiums must establish a YA application proceed
• Potential YA students apply for the YA program according to their local consortium procedures

ENROLLMENT:

Begin:

• As early as JUNE after sophomore year for a Level Two or as late as JUNE after the Junior year
• As early as JUNE after junior year for a Level One senior year or as late as FALL of the senior year
• Provided the YA student's age does not violate child labor law restrictions for the particular occupation

Complete:

• By high school graduation
• By AUGUST 31st following high school graduation
• Extensions beyond August 31st may be granted - submit request in writing to DWD at: Y
  A Program, DWD, P.O. Box 7972, Madison, WI 53707-7922

Process:

• Education/Training Agreement (ETA) -- All parties sign for every YA student enrolled in the program
• Student Registration Form -- Complete and submit a registration form to DWD Uno later than thirty (30) days after the student is hired by the employer
• New Worksites -- If a YA student changes worksites, sign and file a new ETA with the school and new employer. Notify DWD in writing of the worksite change.
• Local consortia cannot rewrite or change language on the ETA or Student Registration Form.

CERTIFICATION:

To be certified, YA students must:

• Achieve the required competency levels for their particular program
• Pass all required classes
• Work the specified minimum number of hours

The Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program is a state-wide initiative for high school juniors and seniors that integrate school-based and work-based learning to instruct students in employability and occupational skills. In this program, students are enrolled in academic classes to fulfill high school, work site, or Blackhawk Technical College. The last component of the YA program is a paid, work experience in the student's chosen industry under the guidance of a skilled mentor. A Certificate of Proficiency in the specific program area will be earned if the identified business/industry competencies' are completed to the proficiency level identified by the Governor's Work-based Learning Board (GWBLB).

Parent Consent Form

Please fill out the survey as your acknowledgement of your child being in the Youth Apprenticeship Program.