STEM Pathways and Youth Apprenticeship Toolkit
Welcome to the STEM Pathways and Youth Apprenticeship Toolkit! This section describes the purpose of this toolkit, and how you might best use it to support your Youth STEM Career Pathway Initiative!
02 – Assessment Tool
This assessment is designed to help your leadership team understand the current level of alignment among the prime apprenticeship drivers in your community. It is most effective when reviewed as a leadership team to compare perspectives and identify shared priorities.
03 – STEM Pathways Initiative – Steps You Can Take
This worksheet is designed to help teams reflect on where partnerships stand now and identify small, reasonable next steps. There are no “correct” answers. The goal is clarity and shared understanding.
04A – Apprenticeship Drivers: Their Roles in Apprenticeship Initiatives A Resource
This Resource describes the importance of the different ‘drivers’ associated with apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are most successful when the right partners are working together with a shared purpose. Each entity involved plays a different role, and each brings something essential to the process. When these roles are understood and coordinated, communities are better equipped to help young people, including youth with disabilities, access meaningful career pathways.
04B – Apprenticeship Drivers: Who are the Apprenticeship Drivers in Your Community?
This overview provides you with a description of Apprenticeship Drivers as a starting point. The impact and sustainability of your team’s effort is enhanced by the degree to which each of these drivers are invested in your success. Their investment doesn’t occur without the engagement of their leadership.
04C – Apprenticeship Drivers: How Apprenticeship Fits within the Workforce System
This brief explains how apprenticeship and the workforce system fit together—and how shared leadership can expand opportunity.
05 – Leadership Description
This section defines and contrasts between ‘Leadership’ and ‘Leveraged’ Roles.
06 – Driver Alignment Assessment Guide
This guide is designed for teams who are working together to support or expand apprenticeship pathways. It provides a process to assess how drivers are currently working together and identify opportunities to strengthen alignment. The goal is shared understanding and practical next steps—not evaluation or judgment.
07 – STEM Career Pathways
This resource describes six different STEM Career Pathways, who might be interested in each, and things an individual might want to explore if the pathway holds interest for a young person considering a career.
08 – Navigators: Guide
This guide defines a navigator role and provides a mapping for use by a community in identifying the navigators in their communities that will support and guide career seekers with disabilities along a STEM Career Pathway.
09 – Apprenticeship Disability Inclusive Practices Guide
This guide offers practical strategies for mentors, instructors, supervisors, and workforce partners who support apprentices. It focuses on building confidence, communication, and a sense of belonging — because people learn best when they feel seen, supported, and valued.
10 – Resource Mapping and Gap Analysis
This section provides a useful approach to identifying resources currently available in your community of focus, and defining areas in which there are gaps in those resources. Identifying the ‘gaps’ are important so that leadership teams are able to establish strategies to compensate for those gaps.
11 – Project or Strategic Planning Approach and Tool
This worksheet supports teams in turning the STEM pathway concepts into practical next steps. It is designed to help partners identify shared objectives, assign responsibilities, and establish a timeline for progress. Use this tool when you are ready to move from planning to action.
12 – Sustainability Planning Tool
This tool supports teams in assessing what has been built, what is working, and what needs to be strengthened to maintain momentum over time. It is intended for use after initial implementation, when partners are moving from planning to long-term ownership.
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