Tool No. 1: CHANCE in Tech Act Our working lunch focused on the CHANCE in Tech Act (H.R. 3174 and S. 1518). This legislation was built frommeetings and feedback from last year’s Fly-In. In 2017, we got CHANCE in Tech introduced. In 2018, we would like to get it passed into law! Our first speaker, Brent Parton, deputy director, Center on Education and Skills, New America, discussed the important role of apprenticeships. “We continue to struggle to build a pipeline of tech talent to fill today’s tech jobs,” he said. “Only about half of kids enrolled in college will graduate. Education is lagging – what we teach in the classroom isn’t up-to-date with what is going on in our companies. We need to blend work and education in a more coherent way.” What is an apprenticeship versus a registered apprenticeship? Parton explained that an
apprenticeship is an arrangement that includes a paid-work component and an educational or instructional component, wherein an individual obtains workplace- relevant knowledge and skills. How do we set up and grow apprenticeships? Parton said setting up a registered apprenticeship program takes tremendous time and commitment from employers. “Coming to a consensus on the skills that need to be imparted to an apprentice, documenting them and dealing with the U.S. registered apprenticeship system requires companies to commit time, money and man hours,” he said. “For some small and medium-sized companies, that’s simply too much of a drain on resources.” This is where intermediaries come in – a vital component of the CHANCE in Tech Act. Intermediaries consist of businesses, industry associations and private workforce organizations that build apprenticeship programs through public- private collaboration; recruit, assess and prepare apprentices; and track apprentices
and employer outcomes. What does the CHANCE in Tech Act propose and support? The CHANCE in Tech Act proposes creating registered technology apprenticeships at the Department of Labor and forging public-private partnerships to serve as intermediaries with participating employers. Each intermediary would assess and train potential apprentices in coordination with local and regional workforce demands. The intermediaries would also lessen the regulatory burden on employers by tracking success indicators and managing other reporting requirements. Tool No. 2: Achieving a Skilled America Our Tech Summit panel, “Taking a Holistic Approach to Achieve a Skilled America,” explored the topic of realizing a highly skilled workforce – a vital objective if the U.S. is to remain globally competitive and innovative. The panel was moderated by Darrell M. West, vice president and director
Attendees take in the 2018 DC Fly-In.
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CompTIAWorld | SPRING 2018
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