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Make School Work For You

Earn While You Learn

Jumpstart your career through work-based learning! GPS Education Partners offers technical education and paid youth apprenticeships to high school juniors and seniors. You’ll be spending part of your day doing hands-on learning projects in a smaller classroom setting at our education center and the other part getting real-world work experience by working directly with one of our business partners.

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What will GPS Education Partners’ students learn?

Through on-the-job training, students are able to gain mastery in the technical skills needed to prepare them for meaningful, productive careers. Paired with lessons, projects and classroom activities, students are also taught valuable life skills such as budgeting and money management, while growing soft skills such as teamwork, creative thinking and self-awareness. These character and leadership skills prepare students for lifelong success in and out of work.

Listen to our students share the amazing skills they have learned through their GPS Ed experience.

Franklin Education Center (Allis Roller) junior building catapult.
GPSEd partners with community-based organizations to positively impact and enrich student lives.
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Learn more about our program by downloading our enrollment brochure.

Curriculum

We’ll help you set your course and career path with our cutting-edge learning management system. Benefit from a competency-based, immersive learning experience aligned to educator and industry standards. Instead of grades, you earn credits for your work experiences. See a full list of our student curriculum and activities below.

CORE SUBJECTS

math

Basic operations with whole numbers, fractions and decimals

Applications of percents and ratios

Practical geometry

Workplace statistics

Pre-engineering math concepts related to algebra, advanced algebra and precalculus

science

Electronics

Physics

language arts

Reading comprehension

Oral and written communication

Business communications

Technical reading

social studies

Civics responsibility and engagement

Industrialization, technology and economics

Workplace psychology

CAREER + TECHNICAL EDUCATION

manufacturing

Safety in the workplace

Quality practices and measurement

Manufacturing processes

Maintenance

blueprint reading

Reading and interpreting manufacturing blueprints

Computing tolerance and featured dimensions

career exploration

Skill and interest evaluations

Application, resume and interviews

Business and school visits

Structured work-based experiences

apprenticeship training

Welding

Machining

Material processes

Industrial maintenance, installation and repair

PERSONAL LITERACIES

lifetime fitness

Physical health

Nutrition

Mental health

character + leadership

Community projects and service activities

Employability skills taught in the classroom and on-the-job

Teamwork and culture building activities

information technology

Digital citizenship

Research

Google applications

Communication and collaboration

financial literacy

Financial services

Money management and insurance

Investing

Loan terms and rental agreements

Beyond Youth Apprenticeship

GPS Ed is certified by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development so you’ll graduate with a youth apprenticeship certificate. You will also have the opportunity to earn a certified production technician designation from the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council.

All graduates earn a high school diploma from their home high school. Students are compensated for their work experience and their improved performance results directly in increased pay. Students can make between $12–$16 an hour.

Check out the wage increase and progression sheet for our Education Center & Youth Apprenticeship Program.

Check out all the amazing activities our students do in our program!
Can you picture yourself here?

Daily schedule and locations

Each student’s day is divided between classroom learning at a GPS Ed Education Center and work-based training at one of our many business partners. Check out an example of a typical student’s schedule on the right.

All learning and work are done outside of the student’s home school*. Academic lessons are delivered by a GPS Ed Technical Instructor and a mentor at the workplace is trained to assist students in their work-based training. Mentors also support, empower and teach students critical and applicable life-long skills.

*Schools interested in students remaining on-premise for academic lessons should contact GPS Ed for program customization

Calendar

Download our 2022-2023 academic calendar below to be up to date on important events and dates for the year.

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Still wondering if GPS Ed’s Education Center & Youth Apprenticeship Program is right for you?

Our program is perfect for students looking for:

  • Small class sizes and personalized education
  • Work-based learning
  • Career acceleration in manufacturing and other technical fields
  • You are or will soon be a Junior or Senior in High School

Ready to learn more? Great! We will work with your school to host an information session and/or we can invite you to join us at an upcoming webinar. Talk to your guidance counselor and contact enroll@gpsed.org.

Fall 2023 New Student Recruitment

To see a full list of our new student recruitment events download our Fall 2023 New Student Recruitment Timeline below or visit our events page to be up to date on important events and dates for the year.

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Set up a tour

Tour a classroom or business facility

We are now hosting in-person events at our local business partners. Please join us at your convenience for an opportunity to see and learn more about our program. Click below to see available tours.

Set Up a Tour

*If you’d like to express interest in a tour, please call our enrollment team at 844-821-8118.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wisconsin Education Center & Youth Apprenticeship Program

What is the current application process?

For a timeline of all our upcoming recruitment events, click here.

We accept applications from students on a rolling basis throughout the year with a final deadline for each term listed on our application page. Students interested in a fall start will need to be an incoming junior or senior to be eligible to apply. We also accept applications from juniors interested in applying for our spring (January) semester. All individuals who apply are guaranteed an interview and admittance decision mailed within two weeks of the interview. Accepted students will be given information on attending a required registration prior to starting in our classrooms.

What does the academic calendar look like?

You can view and download our academic calendar here or find the academic calendar above next to the daily schedule and locations section.

Where do students attend class?

All of the education centers are located within the facilities of our business partners and operate according to their calendar. Students do not attend classes at their home high school; however, they can still participate in extracurricular activities at their home high schools. Learn more here.

What will GPS Ed students receive upon completing the program?

Upon completion, students will receive a high school diploma from their home high school along with a certificate of occupational proficiency in manufacturing from Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development. In addition, the students will have the opportunity to become certified production technicians through the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council. The students will also have on-the-job training and work experience highlighted in a professional portfolio.

What type of work do students do?

Each student will participate in up to three job rotations. The first is an exposure rotation where students experience a variety of career paths within manufacturing. The second is an experience rotation with the opportunity to dive a little deeper into an area of interest or skillset. The final is a credentialed rotation in which students may have the opportunity to earn technical college credits and/or credentials.

Do students get paid while participating in the program?

Yes, students have the opportunity to earn up to $20,000 or more while in the program.

See more Student and Family FAQs for our Wisconsin Education Center & Youth Apprenticeship Program below.

More FAQs