The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed rules to modernize apprenticeship programs, including an initiative aimed at making the transition to registered apprenticeships more seamless for full-time high school and community college students.
An online seminar, hosted by the U.S. DOL’s Employment and Training Administration, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. to review the proposed changes and the process for submitting public comments. Registration information can be found here.
Key revisions in the rules would:
- Strengthen labor standards, quality and worker protections by making occupational skills and training more portable, enhancing alignment with postsecondary education and providing better performance data.
- Better define roles for state apprenticeship agencies and other stakeholders within the National Apprenticeship System.
- Create a Registered Career and Technical Education Apprenticeship, a student-centric model of registered apprenticeship designed to make it more seamless for full-time high school and community college students to enroll in a registered apprenticeship.
- Promote apprenticeship pathways, including pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship readiness programs, by expanding performance and data requirements to improve accountability, transparency and program outcomes.
“Equity and job quality have marked the most successful registered apprenticeship programs for workers and employers alike. This proposed rule codifies the Department of Labor’s strong commitment to these principles,” said acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su.
“Importantly, the proposed changes will also provide strong worker protections, improved employer experiences and greater clarity about the roles of federal and state governments and their partners in the National Apprenticeship System.”
To learn more about the rules and how to participate in the Jan. 11 online seminar, go here.
