Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

2025 National Apprenticeship Day

The California Department of Education is committed to ensuring all students are equipped with the skills they need to prepare for both college and careers. We would like to take a moment to highlight the importance of promoting and celebrating National Apprenticeship Day on April 30, 2025, and encourage you to reach out to your local workforce investment boards to explore and share the many registered apprenticeship opportunities available in California with our students.

Not every student will pursue a four-year college degree immediately after high school, and apprenticeships offer a valuable pathway to career success, union membership, and family-sustaining wages. Registered apprenticeships provide students with paid on-the-job experience, mentorship, industry-specific skills training, and job-specific certifications. This practical experience is just as vital for our students' future as traditional academic routes.

In celebration of National Apprenticeship Day, I encourage you to share and promote the registered apprenticeship opportunities available in California. Apprenticeships are offered in a variety of industries and sectors, from skilled trades to film production to early childhood education. Regardless of the sector, they provide meaningful opportunities for students who may be looking for an alternative to higher education or paid experience in their chosen field while attending college.

Apprenticeships offer opportunities for personal and professional growth, and by highlighting these opportunities, we can ensure that all students have access to a pathway that fits their individual goals and aspirations. CDE is committed to supporting youth apprenticeship pathways for our students. For further information about how to start a registered pre-apprenticeship or youth apprenticeship pathway program, please reach out to youthapprenticeship@cde.ca.gov.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the success of our students. Together, we can help ensure that every student has the chance to succeed and is aware of all the career options and training programs available to them.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction