Conclusion

Youth apprenticeship allows students to complete high school, start their postsecondary education at no (or low) cost, get paid work experience alongside a mentor, and start along a path that broadens their options for the future. Youth apprenticeship programs rely on close collaboration across education institutions, employers, intermediary organizations, and other community stakeholders who share responsibility for ensuring the success of the program and the continuous improvement of the program as a whole.

The Youth Apprenticeship Data Framework is a tool to support program leaders' efforts to identify and collect the information and data they need to effectively document their processes and programs; monitor progress; evaluate the outcomes of apprentices, employers, and other key stakeholders; and engage in continuous improvement efforts. Robust data collection in youth apprenticeship requires alignment and cooperation across multiple partners and systems, each of which will have its own processes and priorities for data. Establishing a shared plan for data collection and data sharing is a complex but critical task for program leaders. The Youth Apprenticeship Data Framework provides direction and a useful foundation for this critical, collaborative process.

At the same time, however, the Youth Apprenticeship Data Framework sets an ambitious standard for the future of data collection and use across the field of youth apprenticeship. As the field continues to grow and improve, this Framework will promote a shared culture around the collection and use of data, and promote programmatic alignment to the PAYA Principles for High-Quality Youth Apprenticeship. With these norms in place across the field, the evidence base for youth apprenticeship will continue to expand and strengthen, informing growth, innovation, and investment in the field over time.