As graduation looms, students need pathways that are practical, affordable and connected to opportunity
Preview:
Apprenticeships offer a rare convergence of interests, giving students a debt-free path to credentials, employers a reliable talent pipeline, and communities stronger local economies. California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian points to research showing apprentices out-earn peers and succeed at higher rates academically, and calls on Congress to invest in scaling the model beyond the trades into nursing, teaching, IT, and public-sector careers. The piece frames apprenticeship as the gold standard for connecting education to economic opportunity and the dignity of work.
Originally published: May 1, 2026
Author: Sonya Christian
Position: Chancellor
Institution: California Community Colleges
Published by: The Hechinger Report