WRTP Bigstep reports apprenticeship outcomes, 86 intakes in Dane County program

MADISON, Wis. — WRTP Bigstep told a Dane County committee on Aug. 12 that its “Pave Your Path” program has recorded 86 intake forms and provided pre‑apprenticeship services to justice‑impacted people both inside and outside the county jail.

“We are a workforce intermediary,” Toni White, chief operating officer at WRTP Bigstep, said as she opened the presentation. White described the nonprofit’s training pipeline for construction trades and said the group serves individuals who are justice impacted, providing life‑skills coaching, aptitude testing and tutoring, and navigation to apprenticeship partners.

The organization reported that 51 people participated in in‑custody services and 35 participated in out‑of‑custody services during the January–June reporting period. “We have provided, 86 individuals have completed our intake forms,” White said. Those out‑of‑custody services include a pre‑apprenticeship training run in partnership with Madison College.

Johanna Wilsey, WRTP Bigstep’s south central region manager, gave the committee a quarter‑by‑quarter breakdown. For quarter 1, Wilsey said 20 people began in‑custody programming; eight withdrew or were released before completion and 12 completed the program, with eight of those achieving passing ACCUPLACER scores. She said two released participants joined the entry‑level construction skills training after release.

Wilsey said quarter 1 out‑of‑custody work included 15 participants who identified as justice impacted; she reported “100% of them complete and pass their ACCUPLACER testing.” In quarter 2, Wilsey said in‑custody participation rose to 31 across multiple cohorts; 18 did not complete (because of withdrawal or release) while 13 completed and 11 of those 13 passed the ACCUPLACER test. For out‑of‑custody programming in quarter 2, she reported 20 participants and said ACCUPLACER participation was lower; a second entry‑level cohort included seven justice‑impacted participants, three of whom completed the course.

Program features described to the committee include required credentials for apprenticeship eligibility — a driver’s license, Social Security card and a high school diploma, GED or HSED — plus passing scores on aptitude testing. White said Bigstep offers free tutoring and flexible scheduling for candidates who do not pass initial testing and noted the program provides OSHA safety training and first aid/CPR instruction.

The group described its outreach and referral relationships. Wilsey said referrals for out‑of‑custody participants most often come from FSET and JustDane and that Bigstep attends monthly fairs and joint apprenticeship council meetings to coordinate with trade training directors and apprenticeship coordinators. White and Wilsey said WRTP Bigstep works with union halls and trade councils to advocate for participants and to track placement and hours worked after project seasons conclude.

The presentation included a single participant success story Wilsey highlighted: a person who started in the jail program, joined the entry‑level construction training after release, received a letter of introduction to the plumbers union and was placed as a plumbing pre‑apprentice with Dave Jones at $18 an hour.

Committee members asked about referral sources and whether the program will expand beyond construction trades; Wilsey said the organization focuses on construction trades and detailed that the industry includes 17 different skilled trades such as glaziers and tile setters. White said WRTP Bigstep works mainly with commercial construction projects to help meet apprenticeship utilization goals and to convert training into placement on multi‑year projects.

No committee action or vote on the program was recorded at the meeting; presenters said they would return with further updates. “We will continue to do the work and continue to come back and tell you how it's working, and being successful for the residents of Dane County,” White said.

The committee closed after the presentation and noted the next meeting date of Oct. 14.