Evaluation of an Approach to Scale Apprenticeship in Chicagoland

The Economic Opportunities Program’s Workforce Strategies Initiative, in collaboration with Dr. Nichola Lowe (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), is conducting a two-year evaluation of an initiative to scale apprenticeship in Chicagoland.

Through a learning evaluation approach, we are building an understanding about characteristics of apprenticeship program models that are academically supported at City Colleges of Chicago. Key questions we are exploring include:

• What capacities are necessary to support apprenticeship implementation? At City Colleges of Chicago? At participating businesses?  At community-based organizations?
• What is the business value for firms that participate in apprenticeship?
• What are the short- and longer-term educational and employment outcomes for apprentices participating in different models? To what extent are people of color and other underrepresented populations benefitting from participation?

Funding for this evaluation is provided by the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance. Apprenticeship 2020 is a $3.2M fund to accelerate efforts to scale work-based learning opportunities in Chicago.