12/8/2020
Southern Oregon has it’s first pre-apprenticeship program for Construction Technology Education (CTE). MPACT is available to students at both North and South Medford High Schools.
The pre-apprenticeship program gives students necessary skills to meet the entry qualifications for apprenticeship programs or the workforce. Students will learn about construction trades such as electrical, plumbing, residential/commercial construction and heating/air conditioning. Completing the program can also give students an advantage when it comes to applying for an apprenticeship or jobs after high school.
“It’s a very important time to have programs like this one,” said Hal Jones. He is the Career and College Readiness Coordinator at the Medford School District. According to the Association of General Contractors, “Seventy-percent of contractors have a hard time finding qualified craft workers to hire amid a growing construction demand.” This demand is critical across the country and locally. For example, the Almeda Fire has caused an increase of construction jobs in the Rogue Valley.
According to the Oregon Department of Education, a high school’s graduation rate can also increase when CTE courses are offered. “High School graduation rate for CTE concentrators is 90 percent, 15 percentage points higher than the national average.” said ODE on their website.
If you are interested in the MPACT program reach out to your CTE teacher or contact your school's Future Center.
