Report Summary: Advancing Pre-Apprenticeship Programming Through National Service – Next100

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Commentary   National Service

Report Summary: Advancing Pre-Apprenticeship Programming Through National Service

This summary of the full report, “Advancing Pre-Apprenticeship Programming Through National Service,” provides grantees, state service commissions, and the AmeriCorps federal agency with recommendations and examples on how to build equitable pre-apprenticeship national service programming that provides service members with critical workforce skills and prepares them for entry into an apprenticeship or career.

This is a one-page summary of the report “Advancing Pre-Apprenticeship Programming Through National Service.” This report was co-authored by Service Year Alliance, Jobs for the Future, and Next100, and provides grantees, state service commissions, and the AmeriCorps federal agency with recommendations and examples on how to build equitable pre-apprenticeship national service programming that provides service year corps members with workforce skills and prepares them for entry into an apprenticeship or career.

Below you will find a gloss of the report’s recommendations. The full report can be found on the Service Year Alliance and Next100 websites.

Recommendations for National Service Programs:

  1. Assess the intersection between the workforce ecosystem and the program model.
  2. Assess workforce opportunities and establish and expand relationships with employers and apprenticeship programs, and collaborate with local workforce development boards to leverage WIOA and other applicable funding.
  3. Ensure equity and access in pre-apprenticeship programming.
  4. Clearly understand the AmeriCorps 80/20 rule.

Recommendations for State Service Commissions:

  1. Engage and coordinate with state and local agencies to create joint pre-apprenticeship programming with braided funding streams that meet state needs.
  2. Partner with the state department of labor and local workforce development boards to leverage WIOA funding.
  3. Prioritize quality pre-apprenticeship programming and workforce development training in grantmaking decisions, and provide technical assistance to national service grantees.
  4. Partner with and support programs in collecting post-service corps member outcomes in pre-apprenticeships.
  5. Work with pre-apprenticeship programs and industry providers to help corps members understand how to use their education awards.

Recommendations for the AmeriCorps Federal Agency:

  1. Provide clarification to programs on how to offer increased flexibility to corps members leaving service early for employment opportunities.
  2. Provide additional clarity on allowable uses of the Segal Education Award.
  3. Coordinate with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to help make WIOA funding more accessible to national service programs.

Additional Resources:

About the Author

Robert Godfried National Service

Robert Godfried was an advocate for creating public service opportunities that are accessible to all. At Next100, Robert focuses on increasing equity and inclusion in AmeriCorps and public service more broadly at the federal, state, and local levels. He previously worked in tenant organizing as an AmeriCorps member, as a field organizer for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, and as an associate for a progressive political digital marketing firm.

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