Cheryl Preheim and Makayla Richards at WXIA-TV in Atlanta report it might be Summer break, but some Atlanta students are already setting themselves up for a career, without waiting for college. At Westside Works, high school students are trading textbooks for toolkits as part of Construction Ready’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program, a free, 20-day training class that ends with job offers and industry-recognized credentials. “Within twenty days, our students are going to earn eight credentials,” Instructor Daniel Jean-Baptiste said. “That’s equivalent to having one year of construction experience.” The program is open to students ages 16-through-24 and is fully-funded through scholarships - with support from the Luma Foundation and the Panera Bread Foundation. By graduation, many students are placed directly with construction companies that hire across Georgia. Students at the Westside Works program train from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., building skills in everything from measurement and safety to blueprint reading. It’s more than just classroom work - it's hands-on preparation for one of Georgia’s most in-demand industries.

For More On This Apprenticeship And Training Labor News Report, Go To: High schoolers in Atlanta are earning job credentials and paychecks before graduation