Lawmaker Pushes for Apprenticeship Program for High School Students

BY JIM TAYLOR R-F-D RADIO NETWORK

A downstate lawmaker is looking to offer high school students other opportunities besides college.

State Sen. Chuck Weaver, R-Peoria, wants to see career-focused apprenticeship programs set up at local schools. That’s the push behind his Senate Bill 3226. 

“I went to Springfield with a business background and just really believed the one thing that both sides can agree on is jobs solve most of our problems,” Weaver told the RFD Radio Network®. “To grow our job market in Illinois, there’s a number of things we have to do. We have to have people willing to invest, you have to have a way to get to market and you also have to have a really good workforce.”

Weaver’s legislation would direct the Illinois State Board of Education to establish guidelines allowing local high school students over the age of 16 to enroll in registered vocational apprenticeship programs.

Also, the United States Department of Labor would have to sign off.

“This is a registered apprenticeship program and for each of these different type of certifications, the federal Department of Labor has guidelines, so a particular school would be required to fit within those guidelines,” Weaver said. “I believe there is sufficient help in this state with this and I know the Illinois Manufacturing Association has been the biggest proponent of this project.”

Weaver’s legislation has won approval in the Illinois Senate and now awaits action in the Illinois House.