This edition provides access to Center webinars on Workforce Board Alignment with RA and a RA Academy WIOA Funding Module. The newsletter also highlights partnership opportunities with Apprenticeship CO, the Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative, and helping the Center identify apprenticeship networks nationwide. Finally, we showcase the Association for Career and Technical Education and American Association of Community Colleges conferences.
This edition of the Center of Excellence Newsletters showcases the newly released TEGL 4-23, Center Webinars on "State Leadership: Establishing RA Metrics in State WIOA Plans" and "Promising Practices in Advancing Rural RA Programs." The Center also highlights presentations at the NAWDP Youth Symposium and throughout National Apprenticeship Week.
This edition features our Supportive Services Office Hours Video, an Adult Education Integrated Education and Training registered apprenticeship presentation and Framework, and a WIOA Planning for registered apprenticeship presentation.
This edition of the Center's newsletter features out new Adult Education IET Pre-Apprenticeship Framework, Using Student-Centric Pre-Apprenticeship Pathways as Transition to High Quality Careers, and the Center's Virtual Forum on Industry and Workforce: Effective Engagement to Expand Registered Apprenticeship.
Hershey, PA
The Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association (PWDA) serves as the voice of the Pennsylvania workforce development system and a clearinghouse for workforce development information statewide. They provide development and capacity building opportunities to workforce development professionals, local workforce development boards (WDBs), and other stakeholders while continuing proactive advocacy efforts on behalf of Pennsylvania’s workforce development system.
Safal Partners' Apprenticeship Senior Subject Matter Expert, Alan Dodkowitz, presented, "Career and Technical Education and Registered Apprenticeship (RA) for Pennsylvania." This session explored strategies for aligning RA with CTE pathways, ensuring that students gain hands-on work experience while gaining the necessary related instruction. Attendees learned how leveraging RA can enhance CTE programs by providing students with structured career pathways and heard best practices for building partnerships between educational institutions, workforce agencies, and employers to create seamless RA pipelines.
Costa Mesa, CA
WORKCON 2025, hosted and designed by the California Workforce Association (CWA), showcased innovative and strategic collaborations, partnerships, programs, ideas, and principles that highlighted the remarkable work of California's Workforce Development Boards, Community-Based Organizations, Educational entities, WIOA partners, and all those who are invested in the success of their local communities and the people who live in them.
Center SMEs Katie Adams and Melissa Aguilar-Southard hosted an interactive workshop on “Aligning Workforce and Registered Apprenticeship: Key Components for Success.” Participants learned about the key components of workforce system alignment with Registered Apprenticeship (RA), the benefits of aligning workforce systems with RA programs, and practical strategies and actionable ideas to build or strengthen workforce system integration with RA.
Virtual
Based on research and assessments conducted by the Center of Excellence, Center subject matter experts provided a deep dive into understanding Registered Apprenticeship (RA) and workforce system alignment, the knowledge gaps that exists, and an analysis of how states are aligning their Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plans with RA. Following this portion of the presentation, James Disbro, Senior Director of Regional Alignment & Programs Development for CareerSource Suncoast, discussed Florida’s apprenticeship expansion efforts. Mr. Disbro focused on elements of integration such as a Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) serving as an RA program sponsor, collaboration with U.S. Department of Labor intermediaries, ways to increase RA programs within the area, engagement with post-secondary institutions, and funding opportunities to support RA.
Branson, MO
MAWD is a statewide organization representing the states’ career and technical training, and workforce development professionals. Focused on workforce development professionals within the state of Missouri, attendees included workforce development professionals from local workforce boards, apprenticeship system staff, partner organizations, community-based organizations, and educational institutions including community and technical colleges.
Center Subject Matter Expert, Haylie Schuster, hosted an interactive workshop at MAWD’s annual convening on “Local Workforce Development Boards: Forging the Future Through Alignment with Registered Apprenticeship.” Participants learned about the key components of workforce system alignment with Registered Apprenticeship (RA), the benefits of aligning workforce systems with RA programs, and practical strategies and actionable ideas to build or strengthen workforce system integration with RA.
