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Oak Grove launches "Aspire" registered youth apprenticeship program; first apprentices hired
Summary
District staff described a new registered youth apprenticeship program (branded "Aspire") organized under Department of Labor/DESE rules; Oak Grove hired four students into apprenticeships in early childhood, IT and custodial work and is seeking employer partners to expand the program.
Oak Grove R‑VI introduced a district‑sponsored registered youth apprenticeship program the board heard at its meeting, and staff presented the program's structure, first cohort and plans for expansion.
Program model and partners Tony Leon (staff presenter) said the district branded its local program "Aspire" and is operating as the program sponsor under the Department of Labor youth‑apprenticeship framework in partnership with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Leon said the district chose to pilot the program in‑house this first year rather than immediately place apprentices with outside employers.
Eligibility, work hours and credentials Leon said the federal youth apprenticeship model covers ages 16–21 and requires a combination of related instruction (often 144 hours for the district's selected occupations) and on‑the‑job training. The department requires workplace competencies and a registration process; apprentices receive a RAPIDS ID and the Department of Labor issues certificates when apprentices complete program requirements. Leon said on‑the‑job training goals typically total 4,000 hours but do not need to be completed by graduation; prior work experience and post‑graduation summer work can count toward the total.
First hires and employer incentives Oak Grove hired four students for the initial cohort: two early‑childhood apprentices (Kirsten Eisenhower, junior; Adeline Jones, sophomore), one IT generalist (Peyton Parks, sophomore) and one custodial apprentice (Jared Hubbard, junior). Leon said the program partnered with Safel Partners and the Early Childhood Workforce Connector, which can provide incentive funds and support for related instruction and certification testing. For IT apprentices, Leon said partner funding will help pay for online training and certification tests.
Expansion plans and employer role Leon said the district's next steps are to recruit community employers — for example in manufacturing, automotive, construction and IT — and to register employer‑specific apprenticeships with the Department of Labor. Employers will post openings, interview applicants and make hiring decisions; Leon emphasized that the employer, not the district organizer, makes hiring decisions and that the district will help coordinate interviews and register apprenticeships.
Ending Leon said the district submitted a request for roughly $230,000 in state apprenticeship expansion grant funding to support program growth and staff capacity; the district expects grant notification in June. The board encouraged outreach to local employers and the chamber of commerce to expand placements.
Provenance and evidence The presentation and hiring announcement were made during the meeting's presentations segment; staff provided examples of related instruction, employer partners and the cohort of four students.
