CareerWise and AFT Launch Education and Apprenticeship Accelerator Initiative

New Coalition Launches to Expand Youth Apprenticeships Across the U.S.

California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania to Join as Founding State Partners

ST. LOUIS—An ambitious new initiative, the Education and Apprenticeship Accelerator, was unveiled today by CareerWise and the AFT, alongside a wide-ranging group of partners. This initiative is set to enhance career and technical education by significantly increasing apprenticeship opportunities for American youth. With strong support from both state and industry leaders, the program aims to provide high school students with valuable earn-and-learn experiences across various industries.

The initiative begins with the participation of several key states, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Governors and state leaders from these states are actively working to promote apprenticeship as a viable career path for young Americans.

This coalition is focused on building robust systems and aligning local and state policies to seamlessly integrate education and apprenticeship. By collaborating with policymakers, educators, employers, and community organizations, the coalition strives to invest in career and technical education (CTE) as a foundation for students pursuing apprenticeships.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein expressed, “North Carolina’s greatest asset is its people, and we strengthen our workforce by investing in career and technical education. I am pleased to join this coalition to provide students with pathways to good-paying jobs, and I encourage more employers to engage in these opportunities to build the talented and reliable workforce of tomorrow.”

Colorado Governor Jared Polis added, “In Colorado, we’ve seen firsthand how apprenticeships can transform lives and strengthen our workforce. As governor and president of the National Governors Association, I’ve made it a priority to align education with the real-world needs of our economy. That’s why I’m proud for Colorado to join the Education and Apprenticeship Accelerator. This initiative will help states like ours go further, faster—scaling apprenticeships through smart policy, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to opportunity. I encourage fellow governors and industry leaders to join us in this national movement to ensure every student has a pathway to success.”

The coalition is also committed to establishing apprenticeship as a top-tier workforce strategy, expanding opportunities across more industries while encouraging employer participation.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated, “In New York, we know that an investment in our students today is an investment in our workforce tomorrow. I am proud to be part of this groundbreaking coalition ensuring high schoolers have access to quality, paid apprenticeship opportunities. By partnering with industry leaders, the Education and Apprenticeship Accelerator will bolster high-demand fields like cybersecurity and information technology with talent right here in New York.”

Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized, “Every Pennsylvanian deserves the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed—and career and technical education and apprenticeships open doors to Pennsylvania students every single day. That’s why my administration has increased funding for CTE and apprenticeships by nearly $65 million since I took office—an increase of more than 50 percent. As a result, 3,000 more students are now enrolled in CTE programs across Pennsylvania, and we’ve registered nearly 100 new apprenticeship programs since 2022 and enrolled more than 14,600 new apprentices—and that’s just the start. My administration will continue to respect and invest in all paths to success and work with organizations like CareerWise and the AFT to bring that opportunity to more Pennsylvanians.”

The initiative is supported by partners who have long understood the impact of apprenticeships in creating diverse and job-ready talent. The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades is one such supporter, committed to expanding youth apprenticeship opportunities in crucial sectors.

IUPAT General President Jimmy Williams Jr. remarked, “At IUPAT, we’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of finally bringing career and technical education and registered apprenticeship together. For decades, these two systems ran on parallel tracks, but breaking down those long-standing barriers isn’t just an education reform—it’s a revolution in how we build careers. When a student can go from the classroom straight into a union apprenticeship, it’s like throwing open the doors to a real career path, leading directly to a good-paying job. This integration is changing lives and strengthening our industry at the same time.”

Coalition partners will offer technical assistance on policy and strategy within states, engaging industries to meet apprenticeship targets and youth outcomes. The coalition will also play a vital role in shaping local, state, and federal policies that aim to connect more youth to apprenticeship opportunities. This cross-sector dialogue is crucial for improving and aligning education and apprenticeship systems to address workforce challenges.

AFT President Randi Weingarten commented, “To nurture opportunity in America’s public schools, we must create multiple educational and economic pathways that our young people are interested in and engaged by. The skilled workforce of tomorrow starts with public schools, particularly high schools, that are safe, welcoming and chock-full of relevant coursework and programs. That’s why we’re building gateways to both college and career, through microchip manufacturing, culinary arts, welding and electrical engineering, to name just a few. I’m so encouraged that this coalition of government, industry and labor is acting now to roll out high-quality, paid youth apprenticeships for tens of thousands of high school seniors across the country. We won’t rest as we scale-up our efforts in the months and years ahead.”

In the upcoming months, the coalition will focus on working with public and private sector partners to highlight the transformative potential of apprenticeship opportunities for young Americans. The coalition will also identify and promote policies and strategies that can scale these demand-driven opportunities across industries.

Noel Ginsburg, founder and CEO of CareerWise, emphasized, “To truly scale youth apprenticeship in this country, we need more than good programs—we need aligned systems and supportive policies that make these pathways a permanent part of how we prepare young people for the future. The Education and Apprenticeship Accelerator is about creating that infrastructure across states, industries and education systems. We’re not just launching an initiative—we’re building a movement. And there’s room at the table. We invite more state and industry leaders to join us in shaping a modern, inclusive workforce by investing in the next generation through apprenticeship.”

To view all partners involved in the Education and Apprenticeship Accelerator, click here.

CareerWise Media Contact:
Shauna Harman
Director of Marketing and Communications
shauna.harman@careerwiseusa.org
317-345-1496

AFT Media Contact:
Andrew Crook
National Press Secretary
acrook@aft.org
607-262-9431

About CareerWise

CareerWise USA is a national nonprofit organization committed to modernizing youth apprenticeships and creating career pathways for students across the United States. Partnering with schools and businesses, CareerWise offers multiyear, paid apprenticeships to high school students, providing meaningful work experience. Through its national consulting practice, CareerWise collaborates with cities and states from California to Maryland to develop tailored youth apprenticeship systems that cater to the unique needs of local students and economies. Additionally, CareerWise supports legislative efforts at the state and federal levels to foster system alignment and expand youth apprenticeship programs.

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