Partners with local businesses to train students for high-growth, in–demand careers
ST. PAUL, MN – On January 3, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry awarded five grants of $95,000 to business-school partnerships to develop and implement paid apprenticeship opportunities for local high school students. The grants are the result of Senator Paul Anderson’s bipartisan Youth Skills Training Program legislation that was signed into law by Governor Mark Dayton in 2017. Locally, Intermediate School District 287 received a grant to fund development of their Pathways Nursing Assistant Registered program, which will train high school students completing the program for immediate placement in high-demand healthcare jobs.
“Minnesota employers face a shortage of skilled workers for in-demand jobs,” said Senator Anderson, Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. “By forming partnerships between local schools, employers, and higher education institutions, the Youth Skills Training Program helps solve the workforce skills gap by preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs.”
The Youth Skills Training Program connects classroom learning with on-the-job experience for high school students ages 16 and older. Students complete apprenticeships and internships at local employers to prepare them for careers in high-wage jobs and further post-secondary education. The Youth Skills Training Program allows flexibility to create programs that fit the local community where it is being implemented.
Locally, Intermediate District 287, which includes Hopkins, Wayzata, Osseo, and Robbinsdale schools, received funding for expansion of their Pathways Nursing Assistant Registered program. The program will train high school students for Nursing Assistant Registered (NAR) and prepare them for certification as NARs, launching students on a pathway for careers in health care. The new program is part of Intermediate District 287’s Hennepin Technical Pathways program, a state-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) program that serves high school juniors and seniors, alternative school students, and special education transition students. High school students in the NAR YST program will complete 75+ hours of instruction combined with clinical supervision.
“Through the Youth Skills Training Program and ISD 287’s Pathways NAR program, high school students in our community will have the opportunity to learn and develop skills that will directly lead to job placement in high-demand industries like healthcare,” added Senator Anderson. “Through the legislature’s investment in programs like these, we can meet the needs of our local businesses while ensuring good paying, long-term employment for the next generation of Minnesota’s workforce. That’s a win-win for all.”