In Pleasanton, California, where strong schools and a thriving local economy define the community, a new kind of student success story is emerging. With a focus on college and career readiness, Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) is leading the way with youth apprenticeship.

Dr. Amos Nugent III, Director of Career Pathways and Adult Learning, is one of the key leaders of this movement. For years, he’s asked: How can we better prepare every student for life after high school, not just those heading to four-year colleges?

That question led PUSD to work with its partners and register the first competency-based youth apprenticeships in California, one in cybersecurity and the other in robotics, in response to Governor Newsom’s bold goal of having 500,000 registered apprentices by 2029. Through their programs, students earn college credit, gain paid work experience, and build in-demand skills before graduating.

“We didn’t know what we didn’t know,” Dr. Nugent said. “We knew we wanted something better for students, but youth apprenticeship was new territory. We had to learn quickly and build on our prior experience supporting adult apprenticeships.”

That learning accelerated when PUSD joined the Youth Apprenticeship Accelerator, a program designed to help districts build and scale high-quality apprenticeship systems. Through the Accelerator, Pleasanton Unified gained vital coaching and peer support, learned how to navigate employer engagement, and strengthened partnerships with local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce. Participation in the Accelerator helped clarify roles like the Employer of Record and deepened collaboration with workforce systems. It also connected Pleasanton with national leaders and resources that accelerated their progress.

One key moment for Dr. Nugent was attending the 2023 National Youth Apprenticeship Summit in New York City. “The summit was phenomenal,” he said. “We saw how systems can work together. We heard from employers and city leaders. That gave us a clear vision for what was possible.” The experience underscored the importance of employers as partners in building sustainable apprenticeship programs, a lesson that shaped Pleasanton’s approach.

Since launching their apprenticeships, PUSD has experienced major victories and encountered notable challenges. Both of its apprenticeships have been registered with the US Department of Labor and the two students completed the cybersecurity youth apprenticeship in the first year. In contrast, the robotics apprenticeship track had to be paused during its first year due to unforeseen employer transitions. Through all of this the district remains firmly committed to future growth. PUSD has registered a new pre-apprenticeship program to support each youth apprenticeship and create a stronger pipeline that ensures more students can access these opportunities. This foundational program will help students gain early exposure to career pathways and build the skills needed to succeed in a full apprenticeship.

“We’re building relationships with employers, the Chamber of Commerce, and the City,” Dr. Nugent said. “This is about access and sustainability.” By embedding apprenticeship into existing Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, incorporating dual enrollment and providing the necessary coaching and support, Pleasanton is creating a model that other districts can replicate.

For Dr. Nugent, the work is about more than workforce development. It’s about opening doors for each student. “This isn’t just for top students,” he said. “We want all students to be seen and to see what is possible.”

Thanks to the clarity and support from the Accelerator, Pleasanton is turning vision into action and showing other districts that this kind of transformation is within reach.