The United States has slid into educational mediocrity when compared to international peers which threatens Americans' ability to adapt in an evolving economy, be productive and content at work, put down deep roots in their communities, and help their nation continue to lead on the world stage. That decline has especially harsh consequences for…

The authors discuss the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at University of Wisconsin--Whitewater, which pairs beginning students with mentors as paid research apprentices for one academic year. It seeks to encourage participation of students from underserved groups who are at higher risk of dropping out of college. RAP introduces students to…

Youth transitions to rewarding careers remain a critical problem for America's current and future workforce. In Baltimore, where only one in five graduates of Baltimore City Public Schools matriculates to a four-year college and the unemployment rate for 16 to 19 year-olds is over 40 percent, opportunities to gain meaningful training and work…

Retaining college-level science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students remains a priority in higher education. A variety of methods have been shown to increase retention, including mentorship, tutoring, course enhancements, community building, and engagement in high-impact practices such as undergraduate research. In 2011, an…

Wisconsin's statewide apprenticeship program is a model school-to-work transition program. In one cooperative endeavor, juniors and seniors work part time at local businesses and attend community college classes two days a week. After testing their community's receptivity, administrators should form a steering committee to target occupational…

This article presents the findings of a research study on the quality of the learning experiences of youth with disabilities who participated in Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship (YA) Program--a rigorous two-year work-based learning program for high school juniors and seniors. The researchers identify key factors that enhance the capacity of youth…

Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship Program in printing (YAP) features the following elements: competency-based curriculum and assessment systems; 2-year, part-time paid training and work experiences at one or more printing companies; work-based mentoring; technical college instruction in printing technology and some academic courses; integrated…