Youth Apprentice Students Earn While They Learn

Stephanie Discepolo of the Howard County Public School System recently told Columbia-Patuxent Rotarians how the Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Program is a workforce development effort supporting students as they transition from high school to careers.

“There's always been a big disconnect with so many employers saying we can't find entry level workers, and students will always tell you that they cannot find a job,” Stephanie said. Her goal is to turn student “jobs” into meaningful “careers.”

The Youth Apprentice Program was piloted in Frederick and Washington County before coming to Howard County. It’s supported by the state’s Department of Labor and involves partnerships with organizations such as Howard Community College and the county’s Office of Workforce Development.

Employers must be approved by the state apprenticeship training council and commit to hiring and mentoring students for a minimum of 450 hours (about 20 hours a week), paying at least minimum wage (but many earn more). Apprenticeships are different from internships that typically have a beginning, an end, and are time limited. The apprentice program is more robust because it combines paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction.

The aim is to develop a pipeline of future employees by giving young workers more skills that will fill business needs. “It’s just a win-win for everybody,” Stephanie said. “Many of our students connect with employers, go right to full time work and then stay and continue with their training.” The program began with 17 students and 13 businesses, but now has 103 students and has expanded into new fields like certified nursing assistant, IT specialist, childcare and automotive work.

While students may gain professional experience, wages, and industry credentials, there are benefits for employers, too. “We’re helping local employers build their talent pipeline,” Stephanie said. “We do the recruiting, we help with onboarding. We’re there to support. We set up the interviews. It's like you get an extra HR person.” Employers can receive financial incentives of up to $20,000 for hiring apprentices.

Stephanie’s focus remains fixed on providing positive career paths for young people. “The students are very grateful for this opportunity. They're excited to be a part of these companies and the culture,” she said. “They bring a lot of young energy and skill sets that, quite frankly, we don't have … I like to say we are walking students over the bridge to their next steps before we release them. We are true partners in this. I always tell students that if they're not successful, I feel like we're not successful. We are there to help them and advocate for them, but we hold them very accountable. It's like they come with five extra mothers because we are so real with them about what the expectations are.”

Columbia-Patuxent Rotary is the largest and most active of Howard County's seven Rotary clubs. Meetings are held each Friday at 7:30 a.m. at JAM Eateries. Visitors are always welcome.