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College and Career Readiness

(209) 292-2693 • Staff Directory

To be college and career-ready, students must be prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary to enter the ever-changing workforce of the future. According to the Educational Policy Research Center, “a student who is ready for college and career can qualify for and succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing college courses leading to a baccalaureate or certificate, or career pathway-oriented training programs without the need for remedial or developmental coursework.”

The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) College and Career Readiness department supports all districts in the county with resources and training to help prepare students for success. This includes providing students with rigorous and relevant curriculum content, quality career technical education (CTE) pathways (that include the 11 elements of a high-quality CTE program), and a solid understanding of the resources available upon high school graduation. Evidence has shown that early and consistent opportunities to explore college and career pathways are crucial for all students and their future success.

For more information about the College and Career Readiness department, please contact Pam Knapp at paknapp@sjcoe.net or Janel Jesuitas at jjesuitas@sjcoe.net.

Registered High School Apprenticeships

ARCH Logo

High School Apprenticeship Program

The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) was awarded a California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) Grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office to fund the first-of-its-kind High School Apprenticeship program – Apprenticeships Reaching Career Horizons (ARCH). The concept is based on the idea of “growing our own” future employees, where high school students are trained and educated in one of several occupations. To date, high school students are working as fully registered apprentices in the occupations of:

  • • Information Technology Support Specialist
  • • Teacher’s Aide/Paraprofessional
  • • Assistant Farm Manager
  • • Hospitality and Marketing (coming soon)

The employers are mostly school districts, with the goal to soon include private employers. Students who are juniors or seniors in high school and are at least 16 years old can be registered as apprentices in this Division of Apprenticeship Standards approved apprenticeship program. As part of this apprenticeship program, students are also enrolled in classes through the local community college, San Joaquin Delta College, in related courses that align with the occupation they are pursuing while working part-time, earning and learning on the job.

Learn more in the Apprenticeship Reaching Career Horizons (ARCH) program flyer.

First California High School Registered Apprentice

In October 2023, Carter Lacey, a Ripon High School graduate, was the first student to complete the Apprenticeships Reaching Career Horizons (ARCH) program, the state's first registered apprenticeship program for high school students. Carter was a junior at Ripon High School in 2020 when he was among the original students to participate in the ARCH program and began working as an Information Technology Support Specialist apprentice for the school district.

2020 Apprentice Signing Ceremony Highlight video

Read more about ARCH in articles published about the program in: SJCOE Outlook Magazine , The Record , Lodi News Sentinel , Escalon Times , and Newsletter - Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

Additional High School Apprenticeship Resources

Registered Adult Apprenticeship Programs

Adult Apprenticeships

The San Joaquin County Office of Education serves as the local education agency (LEA) for approximately 35 apprenticeship programs across California. The College and Career Readiness department oversees, reviews, and approves Related Supplemental Instruction for new and existing apprenticeship program partners. In addition, the department works with a variety of agencies and local apprenticeship coordinator associations, management and employee associations, and other LEAs to support California employers in developing a skilled workforce, using the apprenticeship training model, thus creating viable career pathways that increase productivity and strengthen our economy.

If you are a student or employee looking for more information, please go to the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards website.

Employers interested in learning more can contact Apprenticeship Program Specialist Marianne Parra at mparra@sjcoe.net.

Direct Support Professional (DSP) Training

Direct support professionals provide direct care, guidance, and support to developmentally disabled residents in community care facilities (CCF). These facilities are designed to allowindividuals to live as independently as possible. Employees of CCFs are required to complete training that provides skills necessary to meet the needs of the residents, supervisors, and administrators to ensure their health and safety.

Direct Support Professional training is a state-certified program taught by qualified instructors from the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) College and Career Readiness department. This two-year, 70-hour course is taught in two separate phases, Year I and Year II. Both courses are 35 hours and are in accordance with Title 17 regulations. Year I training must be completed within the first year of employment, and Year II training must be completed by the end of the second year of employment. At the conclusion of each course, the direct support professional will complete a skill check and written test.

The SJCOE College and Career Readiness department provides this training at no cost to direct support professionals working in CCFs. Classes are available in person and via Zoom.

All DSP registration is completed online at www.dsptrain.org.

For more information, please visit the Department of Developmental Services website at http://www.dds.ca.gov/DSPT. For questions regarding DSP registration or results notification, contact the eDSPT Helpline at (800) 910-4604.

Student Resource Guides

College Readiness

The following links are helpful in learning more about college admissions, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities. Additionally, below is a link to the California Department of Education (CDE) Dashboard and the College Career Indicator.

College Admissions & Resources

Financial Aid and Scholarship Websites

College Assessment Exams

California School Dashboard and System of Support

Career Technical Education (CTE)

The College and Career Readiness department coordinates monthly meetings for district Career Technical Education (CTE) directors and administrators to discuss current issues related to grant funding, career pathways, and opportunities for students in CTE. Below are links to important CTE-related information: