Section 20-2-161.2. Youth Apprenticeship Program; policies, standards, criteria, procedures, and administrative requirements; pilot projects  


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  •    (a) Any eleventh or twelfth grade pupil or pupil aged 16 or over in any public school in this state may enroll in a Youth Apprenticeship Program which is offered at that public school and which is approved for secondary credit by the department. Such pupil shall be granted release time from the public school to work as an apprentice for any business enterprise which is approved by the department as a qualified employer under the educational apprenticeship program. A pupil shall receive secondary credit for such apprenticeship only under the conditions established by the department. The department is authorized to establish a Youth Apprenticeship Program and to promulgate such policies, standards, procedures, criteria, and administrative requirements as may be necessary to implement the program by rules and regulations. The department shall consult the Department of Labor and the Technical College System of Georgia in developing such policies and procedures. The department's certified educational apprenticeship plan shall include but not be limited to the following:

       (1) A detailed training plan between employer and apprentice that identifies specific work tasks that will develop workplace competency;

       (2) A minimum of 144 classroom hours of related academic instruction and training;

       (3) A minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training;

       (4) A progressive wage schedule established by the participating employer;

       (5) On-site evaluation of the pupil's performance;

       (6) Training remediation as necessary at the school site;

       (7) A broad range of skills but shall be focused on manufacturing and engineering technology, administration and office technology, and health care;

       (8) Development of materials by the business, industry, and labor community in conjunction with the department to promote the awareness of apprenticeships for high school students and encourage recruitment; and

       (9) Structural linkage between secondary and postsecondary components of the program leading to the awarding of a high school diploma and postsecondary certification of occupational skills.

    The apprenticeship program shall include on-site training only in positions that have been certified by the Department of Labor as highly skilled jobs in business and industry.

    (b) The department shall develop pilot projects for the fiscal year 1994 and fiscal year 1995 school years and shall implement and direct a comprehensive apprenticeship program for all school systems by fiscal year 1996.
Code 1981, § 20-2-161.2, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 2772, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 335, § 2/SB 435.