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Oshkosh district sets goal to raise college-credit and apprenticeship participation to 62% of 2025 graduates
Summary
District staff told the board the district will target growth in dual credit, AP, youth apprenticeships, work-based learning and industry credentials after audit of reporting found prior over-counting. Early indicators show rising applications for apprenticeships and more industry credentials available.
At the March 12 Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education meeting, district staff presented a workshop on the district’s college-credit and work-experience Key Performance Indicator, proposing a one-year target to raise the share of 2025 graduating seniors who participate in at least one advanced placement course, dual-credit course, youth apprenticeship, work-based learning placement or industry‑recognized credential from 58% to 62%.
The goal follows an internal data cleanup, staff said, that removed courses incorrectly labeled as dual credit and corrected cohort definitions. “We have the systems and structures in place to make sure that we are checking our dual credit and our courses,” a district staff member identified in the meeting as Jackie said, summarizing the audit and noting earlier published 72% figures were inflated by misclassified records.
District career and technical education coordinator Vicky Player told the board the KPI spans five tracked areas: dual credit, Advanced Placement (AP), youth apprenticeship, work-based learning and industry‑recognized credentials. To increase participation the district plans six targeted strategies that include: aligning course enrollment caps with Fox Valley Technical College for select dual-credit offerings; identifying capstone and research experiences; expanding advisory boards that connect teachers to employers and higher‑education partners; student‑centered coaching for CTE teachers; expanding youth apprenticeship partnerships; and increasing industry‑recognized credential opportunities.
Parent Erin Ball provided a testimonial about outcomes for three sons who completed youth apprenticeships with Oshkosh Corp and other local employers. Ball said the apprenticeships produced internships, college credit and job offers. “This youth apprenticeship program has fundamentally shaped each of my boys in ways that went far beyond what traditional classroom education could provide,” Ball said.
Staff noted early indicators of progress: more applications for youth apprenticeship positions than in prior years (staff reported over 100 applications for the coming year), an increase in the number of industry credentials available to students compared with the prior year, and expanded AP course offerings (AP Psychology was approved for next year with three sections planned).
Board members asked about cost barriers. Staff said dual-credit costs and AP exam fees can deter participation and described local scholarship efforts to offset fees; staff asked for community partnerships to expand that support.
Next steps include implementing the six strategies during the coming year, continuing advisory-board development, aligning existing on-campus work programs to state work-based learning requirements so they count toward youth apprenticeship metrics, and reporting year-over-year progress to the board.
The district presentation emphasized that the KPI is measured at the district level and that data for a cohort are final only after the semester completes and students finish apprenticeships, credentials or courses.
