President Obama Announces First-ever National Apprenticeship Week
November 2, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2015
Contact: Sean Lynch
slynch@acteonline.org, 703-683-9312
President Obama Announces First-ever National Apprenticeship Week
Emphasizes need for student access to career-focused educational opportunities
Alexandria, VA – In an official proclamation last week, President Obama formally declared the week of November 1-7, as National Apprenticeship Week, the first-ever annual celebration of the opportunities offered to students through apprenticeship programs. ACTE is proud to join in this national conversation about the promising pathways to success available through apprenticeships and other employer-connected CTE programs.
“As a firm believer in the power of CTE, I am thrilled to add ACTE’s voice to this week’s dialogue about apprenticeships,” said ACTE Executive Director LeAnn Wilson. “Like CTE Month in February, this event marks an excellent opportunity for us all to acknowledge the promise of apprenticeships as a leading model for success in delivering CTE. I hope we can all come together to thank the educators, business leaders and students who are collaborating in apprenticeship programs to ensure our workforce and our economy will remain the strongest in the world in the 21st century.”
The Obama Administration has demonstrated a commitment to spotlighting apprenticeship programs that offer opportunities for students to gain the necessary skills for careers in growing fields. ACTE has partnered with the Administration to support these efforts, which call attention to the need for all students to have access to high-quality CTE that will prepare them for college- and career-success.
ACTE has also conducted work to call attention to leading apprenticeship programs, including through its recent brief on Pratt & Whitney’s “Flight Plan to Success” program, developed in partnership with Muscogee County School District and Columbus Technical College based in Columbus, Georgia. There, students can work as Gas Turbine Engine Mechanic Apprentices, which teaches advanced technical and STEM skills as well as critical employability skills in a professional setting at Pratt & Whitney manufacturing facilities. These strategies for educating America’s students can prepare them for their future, and help them to get excited about careers available in their local communities.
Additional information is available on the Department of Labor’s website, here.
About Us: The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, guidance counselors and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.
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