State Awarded $1M For Registered Apprenticeships

Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — Today, at the Massachusetts Apprenticeship Council meeting, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) awarded $1,052,584 for Massachusetts to support Registered Apprenticeship as a training and employment strategy for emerging industries.

This awarded USDOL grant builds on the Healey-Driscoll Administration's commitment to expand Registered Apprenticeship, a proven workforce strategy that combines technical and on-the-job training for workers, delivers industry-recognized credentials, and increases access to progressive wage increases and good-paying jobs.

"Our administration is committed to expanding Registered Apprenticeship for more industries, supporting business growth, a stronger workforce, and economic competitiveness in regions across Massachusetts," said Governor Maura Healey. "We're grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and USDOL for providing these critical funds to build the workforce we need to deliver on key infrastructure projects, from roads and bridges to clean energy and resiliency in Massachusetts." 

Through the USDOL, State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants support states to engage industry partners, create post-secondary education career pathways and develop the talent pipeline needed to meet the skill needs of their local labor markets. The investments are part of the second round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula funding the department has awarded. The funding advances the Biden-Harris administration's goals to expand, modernize and diversify Registered Apprenticeship for all American workers, including women, people of color, individuals with disabilities and other underserved communities. 

 

The USDOL award for Massachusetts builds on the Healey-Driscoll Administration's commitment to growing Registered Apprenticeship. In February, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced $5 million in Apprenticeship Expansion and Opportunity Grants, including a combination of state and federal funds, to 25 organizations to train and place apprentices across the state. The FY25 budget continued these investments with nearly $3.5 million to support registered apprenticeship and expand to industries like health care, life sciences, education, and advanced manufacturing while also enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for the construction and building trades. The Healey-Driscoll Administration's $1 billion tax cut package included expanded eligibility for the Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit, which offers employers a $4,800 credit for each apprentice hired. 

 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Central Berkshire Navigating AI in Education

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School District is researching artificial intelligence in education to inform future policy and practice.
 
"Our ultimate goal is to at least to have some common expectations that we can rally around first," Assistant Superintendent Aaron Robb said at December's School Committee meeting. 
 
In September, Robb established an AI ad hoc committee made up of teachers, a student, the IT director, and a School Committee member. The committee has been trying to meet twice a month, he said. 
 
It is charged with researching the challenges and opportunities AI presents in education to help the district navigate the "AI revolution."
 
Throughout the process, the committee will get guidance from Fadia Rostom-Makdisi, computer  scientist, AI educational adviser, and former principal of St. Agnes' School. 
 
"She's gone off on her own as a consultant and she's doing some consulting work with schools around AI and she's been doing some, as we've just been calling it, 'AI 101' training in our district," Robb said. 
 
During the November professional development days, almost 100 district staff and faculty received a three-hour basic AI training from Rostom-Makdisi which covered the how and what of AI and several commonly used AI tools in education. 
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories