Why Local Organizations Partner With GPS Ed
The Education Center & Youth Apprenticeship Program creates value for more than one group at a time. Students gain access to hands-on learning, paid work experience, and clearer paths after high school. Employers help shape future talent. Schools expand opportunities for students. Community partners help strengthen the connection between education, work, and local success.
Help local students gain real-world experience before graduation
Support a stronger pipeline of future talent in your community
Give students clearer paths into work, training, and continued education
Strengthen connections between schools, employers, and local organizations
Support student growth, confidence, and career readiness
Invest in a program that benefits both students and the broader community
Graduates Statewide
Business Partners
School Districts
Education Centers
Help Shape Future Talent In Your Community
Partnering with GPS Ed gives employers a practical way to invest in local students while strengthening their future workforce. Businesses can host youth apprentices, provide meaningful workplace experience, and help students build the technical and professional skills that matter on the job.
For employers, this is not just about filling today’s openings. It’s about helping students explore technical careers, preparing them for long-term success, and building a stronger talent pipeline.
Host youth apprentices in a real workplace setting
Help students build technical skills and professional habits
Support a stronger future talent pipeline
Give back by investing in local students and your community
Partner with GPS Ed to create a supported experience for both students and staff
Give Students A More Connected Path Through High School
GPS Ed helps schools and districts connect students to a different kind of high school experience, one that blends academics, hands-on learning, and paid work experience.
For schools, partnership means another way to support student engagement, graduation, and career readiness. It gives juniors and seniors access to immersive learning and technical career pathways while helping them stay on track for a diploma and clearer next steps after high school.
Expand access to hands-on, career-connected learning
Support juniors and seniors interested in technical pathways
Help students stay engaged and on track for graduation
Connect classroom learning to real work experience
Give students stronger preparation for work, training, or continued education
“It’s critical that we have work-based learning experiences because our students aren’t going to get that if we don’t have employers that are willing to open their doors and be part of that work-based learning continuum with our students.”
Eric Radomski, Senior Manager of Career and Technical Education, Milwaukee Public Schools
Support Stronger Opportunities For Local Students
Through partnership with GPS Ed, community organizations can help strengthen the connections between students, schools, employers, and the opportunities that already exist across the region.
For many community partners, getting involved means helping local students prepare for sustaining careers, supporting workforce readiness, and contributing to a stronger future for the broader community.
Help students access career exploration and real-world opportunities
Strengthen local ties between schools, employers, and community organizations
Support workforce readiness and long-term economic vitality
Reinforce student leadership, confidence, and community connection
Invest in a program that benefits both young people and the region as a whole
Meet The Team Behind Local Partnerships
Our team works directly with schools, employers, students, and families to help keep communication clear, relationships strong, and the program running smoothly. From employer partnership support to student recruitment, school coordination, and work-based learning oversight, our team helps partners stay connected to the program and to the students it serves.
Andrew Zimdars
Director of Partner Services
Ann Widen
Partner Services Manager
Karen Gibbs
Partner Services Manager
Marlon Paige
Partner Services Manager
Take The Next Step As A Program Partner
We work with employers, schools, and community organizations to make the Education Center & Youth Apprenticeship Program possible. If your organization wants to get involved, we’d love to talk about the role that fits best.
Questions Partners Ask
Different partners come to GPS Ed with different goals and questions. Start with the section that best fits your organization.
For Employers
What does it look like to partner as an employer?
Employers help make the program possible by interviewing and hiring youth apprentices, providing on-the-job training, paying students, participating in mentor training, using GPS Ed’s daily assessments, and taking part in regular progress reviews.
Do we need to create the whole experience on our own?
No. GPS Ed supports employers through the process and helps simplify the experience. We facilitate a number of services involved in Youth Apprenticeship. These are an employer partner’s specific responsibilities:
- Participate in mentor training sessions – GPS Ed provides training
- Interview and hire Youth Apprenticeship (YA) student(s)
- Provide on-the-job training to YA student(s)
- Pay YA student(s) – GPS Ed provides a wage scale that begins at $12 and increases beyond as students progress and obtain certification levels
- GPS Ed Daily Assessments of student(s) (web-based app 2-minute process)
- Participate in regular formal Progress Reviews
- Ensure 450 hours per year of work-site training/work hours – 900+ over a 2-year apprenticeship
- Participate in annual GPS Ed events – Career Fair, Senior Luncheons, etc.
How many apprentices can a business support?
That depends on your level of engagement and capacity. Our team can help map your organization and make a recommendation based on what makes sense for your setting.
How long can students stay with a business?
If the fit is strong, students can remain with a business partner for their full journey in the program, or for a shorter placement of at least five to six months. Students can work year-round and may work up to 40 hours during part of the summer if the partner has that need.
What is the financial commitment?
Starting in Fall 2025, there is no registration fee. Most of the experience is covered by school and business partners, grants, and donors. Families are still responsible for transportation and certain student consumables, such as extra uniforms, field trips, and work-related gear.
For Schools & Districts
What does partnership look like for schools and districts?
GPS Ed partners with school districts to provide immersive work-based learning for high school juniors and seniors through the Education Center & Youth Apprenticeship Program. The model combines relevant classwork with real work experience and creates technical career pathways after high school.
What kinds of students is the program designed for?
Partner high schools recommend students who are interested in hands-on learning, STEM, and technical fields of study. Students interested in a fall start need to be incoming juniors or seniors, with an additional spring-start option for juniors.
How does the program support student success?
Combining classwork with real work experience helps accommodate different learning needs, instill a sense of purpose, and increase graduation and work-readiness rates in local communities.
Can students still pursue college after participating?
Yes. Our curriculum can prepare students for a four-year college, and our staff also helps students with college applications if that is the path they choose.
For Community Partners
What role can a community organization play?
Community partners are key stakeholders in strategies that support economic development. In practice, that means community organizations can help strengthen local connections, support student opportunity, and reinforce the environment around the program.
Why should a community organization get involved?
Our partners see their involvement as an opportunity to help shape students’ values, prepare them for sustaining careers, and support engaged citizenship, leadership, and community participation.
Do community partners need to host students directly?
Organizations can contribute in different ways, including partnership, sponsorship, volunteer support, or financial support that helps expand access for students.
What if our organization wants to support the program financially instead of operationally?
Our donate page invites supporters to donate, sponsor, or volunteer to help close funding gaps, support student opportunities, and strengthen the future workforce.