Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Apprenticeships open up a world of work to students — and they’re key to developing real-world skills, confidence, and long-term success.
Yet many young people are asked to make major decisions about their future without ever setting foot in that world. And too often, apprenticeships start too late, missing a key window to explore interests and strengths.
EDC’s Jessica Juliuson makes the case for introducing work-based learning in K–8, where early hands-on experiences can spark curiosity, build confidence, and help students make more informed choices about what comes next.
Apprenticeships open up a world of work to students — and they’re key to developing real-world skills, confidence, and long-term success.
Yet many young people are asked to make major decisions about their future without ever setting foot in that world. And too often, apprenticeships start too late, missing a key window to explore interests and strengths.
EDC’s Jessica Juliuson makes the case for introducing work-based learning in K–8, where early hands-on experiences can spark curiosity, build confidence, and help students make more informed choices about what comes next.
