Three years ago, Gov. John Hickenlooper and a delegation of state officials went back to school—in Switzerland. The delegation traveled there to learn about the country's comprehensive apprenticeship program for young people, and how they could bring it back to Colorado.
Today, there are about 250 students in the Careerwise program statewide between 70 participating companies and several school districts. The goal by 2027 is to have one in ten high school students in an apprenticeship program. CPR News education reporter Jenny Brundin talked to Colorado Matters about apprenticeships.
In Careerwise, students choose from five career pathways to pursue as opposed to a college education track. Starting junior year of high school, students will devote two of five traditional school days to working at their company. That goes up to three days during senior year, and up again to full-time for a year after graduation.
