A skills gap challenges educators and policymakers alike. To help meet the economic and educational needs for the modern workplace, Congress recently reauthorized the Perkins Act. The bill, "Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act," emphasizes an important mission of education in the 21st century, that is, helping students to acquire academic knowledge and technical and employability skills. both college and career readiness play an essential role in every student's K-12 education. Students are clearly getting the college message; about two-thirds of recent high school graduates enroll in two- and four-year colleges and universities. However, issues, such as low college completion rates, high student loans for college, and high unemployment rate among young adults, have driven us to ask whether we have also done enough to inform students about options in the world of work and help them get ready for the increasingly challenging and competitive job market. Across the country high schools are providing different program--such as career pathways and certifications--to acquaint teenagers with workplace demands. Yet it seems to be short on a potentially effective strategy--apprenticeships--and how students may benefit from such programs. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of apprenticeships in the United States, from the following four dimensions: (1) What does the 21st century apprenticeship look like in the United States? (2) What does data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) say about apprenticeships in the U.S.? (3) What are the challenges that educators, both international and national, are facing to expand apprenticeship programs? and (4) What perspectives should school districts consider when developing apprenticeship programs?