| The Philadelphia schools, along with other schools | | | | meet the requirements. Potentially, 425 |
| across the nation, are concerned with students | | | | apprenticeships for graduates could be offered |
| who do not enter college upon graduation. Many | | | | over the four-year period. It is estimated that the |
| are left with low-paying, dead-end jobs with little | | | | majority of the students to qualify will be |
| prospects for future improvements - keeping | | | | minorities from low-income families, a truly |
| many of those students from impoverished | | | | remarkable shot in the arm for the families, as |
| homes in the low-income lifestyle. | | | | well as the city. It also means the Philadelphia |
| This has been of concern also for James Nevels, | | | | schools can offer these students more |
| chairman of the state-appointed School Reform | | | | opportunities to learn skills that could potentially lift |
| Commission that is responsible for overseeing city | | | | them out of the poverty level. |
| schools within the state, including the Philadelphia | | | | The Council will be working with the Philadelphia |
| schools. Nevels believes students have been | | | | schools to develop the curriculum. They will host |
| historically underrepresented in the local trade | | | | seminars for students to pique their interest and |
| unions, and believes it is time to change that | | | | motivate them to apply for the apprenticeship |
| status quo. | | | | programs. The Council also will monitor the results |
| Both Nevels and the Philadelphia schools believe | | | | of the apprenticeships for co-review with the |
| that the city benefits, when graduated students | | | | Philadelphia schools. |
| are gainfully employed and productively adding to | | | | With nearly 200,000 students currently enrolled in |
| the community in a positive manner. When these | | | | the Philadelphia schools and about 12,000 |
| students are from low-income families and are | | | | graduating each year, this program was |
| allowed to raise themselves out of the poverty | | | | desperately needed for both the students and the |
| level, the community benefits exponentially. | | | | community. It's expected that a minimum of 62 |
| Trades offer non-college bound students just the | | | | students will enter the apprenticeship program |
| opportunity for such future growth and lifestyle | | | | each of the four years, though there are |
| improvement. | | | | potentially more apprenticeships available. |
| In June 2006, a four-year deal was announced | | | | This four-year deal between the Philadelphia |
| between the Philadelphia schools and the Building | | | | schools and the Building and Construction Council is |
| and Construction Council (AFL-CIO). Politicians, | | | | truly groundbreaking for the city of Philadelphia. |
| business leaders, and educators alike are calling | | | | The Philadelphia schools can offer more to their |
| the deal significantly historical for the city and its | | | | students. The students get an opportunity that |
| future. | | | | may not have been otherwise available to them. |
| As part of a $1.7 billion construction and | | | | The trade unions can build their memberships with |
| maintenance contract with the Philadelphia schools, | | | | young, vibrant workers, as well as build their |
| the Council through its local trade unions will | | | | diversity. The city gets more productive |
| provide a minimum of 250 apprenticeship | | | | community members. It is a win-win situation for |
| opportunities for Philadelphia schools students, who | | | | everyone. |