New program creates additional apprenticeship opportunities for Maryland high school students

MARYLAND – In Maryland, a new grant program looks to increase youth apprenticeship programming statewide.

It’s called Maryland Works. The Maryland State Department of Education will provide the $12 million in funding to local school districts and partnering organizations.

The goal is to build out and develop certified apprenticeship programs that align with current industry needs. “That means both identifying where the industry need is and then figuring out how and what ways school districts can make sure they’re best positioned to reduce barriers and make students have access to those programs as they become online and more available,” MSDE Assistant State Superintendent of Financial Planning Operations Justin Dayhoff said.

The program also aims to meet the Blueprint for Maryland’s goal of graduating at least 45% of high-school students who complete an apprenticeship and earn a certification in their field of choice.

The state is currently at 7%. We’re told increasing that number will hopefully create a pathway for more students to attend college or provide them a leg up as they enter the workforce. “We have about 54,000 graduates per year. That’s moving it up to nearly 25,000 kids we’re going to keep participating in these programs,” Dayhoff said.

“The point of this isn’t to try and set up a program that’s going to have to go away in a couple of years, but instead allow local school districts to make the important infrastructure investments necessary in their systems.”

Applications for interested school districts and local or national partners are open now.

The deadline to apply is April 4th, 2023.

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