The Open-Source Youth Apprenticeship Toolkit
Everything a rural community needs to launch a youth apprenticeship program — templates, guides, policies, and lessons learned from the Tehama County pilot. Free to download, adapt, and share.
Why This Toolkit Exists
Don't Start From Scratch. Start From Here.
Built from the North State pilot, the toolkit helps educators, employers, and workforce boards increase the quality, consistency, rigor, and accessibility of work-based learning — while reducing duplication of effort through reusable, field-tested materials.
The Documents
Toolkit Library
Each document is available as an accessible PDF, with editable source versions in the shared drive. This proof-of-concept set is intentionally presented in four design directions — Expect More Tehama brand, Industrial (matching this website), Clean Professional, and Playful — so stakeholders can compare and choose. The production toolkit ships in one cohesive system, in whichever direction the Coalition selects. All editions carry the Expect More Tehama logo.
Toolkit Guide & Program Blueprint
How to use the toolkit, the anatomy of a youth apprenticeship, a 12-step launch roadmap, and lessons learned from the Tehama County pilot.
Sample Apprenticeship Training Plan
A competency-based on-the-job training outline for Industrial Maintenance, with related instruction mapping and wage-progression schedule.
Employer Onboarding Guide & Checklist
Step-by-step host-employer onboarding: registration, mentor selection, safety and supervision requirements for minors, and a launch checklist.
HR Templates, Policies & Job Descriptions
Sample apprentice job description, work-permit and scheduling policies, wage-progression template, and evaluation forms ready to adapt.
Student & Employer Responsibilities Agreement
A plain-language agreement covering expectations of apprentices, host employers, schools, and program staff — plus operating procedures.
Communication & Outreach Kit
Recruitment flyer copy, press-release template, social posts, counselor talking points, and slots for Expect More Tehama brand assets.
Work-Based Learning Best Practices
Quality benchmarks for rural WBL: rigor, consistency, accessibility, mentor standards, and a self-assessment rubric for partnerships.
Case Studies & Lessons Learned
Documented outcomes, stakeholder voices, challenges, and sustainability recommendations from the North State pilot — added as the cohort progresses.
Editable Versions
Google Shared Drive Access
Every toolkit document is also maintained in a public Google Shared Drive as editable Google Docs templates — so your community can copy, adapt, and localize without design software.
Open the Shared Drive (linked at launch)Replicate It
Bringing This to Your Community?
We'd love to help. The toolkit is designed for adaptation across rural Northern California and beyond. Contact the project team for an orientation or to share how you've used the materials.