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Apprenticeship Training Program Administrator's Guide

Part D: Roles and Responsibilities of Applicable Partners

D-100: Local Education Agency

Role: An LEA is a public school district or state postsecondary institution that serves as a sponsor for a registered apprenticeship training program pursuant to a contract between the LEA and an apprenticeship committee under Texas Education Code, Chapter 133.

Responsibilities: LEA administrators' responsibilities include:

• ensuring that the apprenticeship training program director has all prospective apprentices registered with Office of Apprenticeship;
• performing at least one on-site visit during one of the first four class meeting of all registered apprenticeship training program classes and through the use of the instructor’s attendance rosters for verifying:
  • the names and number of apprentices in the related instruction class; and
  • that all apprentices in attendance are registered with Office of Apprenticeship;
• collecting all information and forms and providing them to TWC on or before the due date as annually prescribed in TWC's Apprenticeship Training Program Timeline (Word or PDF) or contract;
• establishing qualifications for instructors;
• maintaining records on all expenditures;
• monitoring and evaluating the program; and
• retaining all records pertaining to the program for at least three years from the closeout of the contract by TWC.

D-200: Apprenticeship Committee

Role: An apprenticeship committee is an autonomous local group consisting of members appointed by one or more employer sponsors of apprentices, bargaining agents representing members of an apprenticeable trade, or a combination of the two.

Responsibilities: An apprenticeship committee is designated for each registered apprenticeship training program to establish instruction standards and goals for a particular craft or crafts, interview and select applicants, and monitor the program and apprentices as described in Texas Education Code, Section 133.003:

The apprenticeship committee for each apprenticeship training program shall:

1. establish standards and goals for preparatory instruction, supplementary instruction, and related classroom instruction for apprentices in the program;
2. establish rules governing the on-the-job training and other instruction for apprentices in the program;
3. plan and organize instructional materials designed to provide technical and theoretical knowledge and basic skills required by apprentices in the program;
4. recommend qualified instructions for the program;
5. monitor and evaluate the performance and progress of each apprentice in the program and the program as a whole;
6. interview applicants and select those most qualified for entrance into the program;
7. provide for the keeping of records of the on-the-job training and progress of each apprentice;
8. encourage instructors to maintain recommended qualifications; and
9. perform any other duties which, in the opinion of the apprenticeship committee, promote the goals of individual apprentices and of the program as a whole.

D-300: Office of Apprenticeship

Role: Office of Apprenticeship is a program office of the Department of Labor that works closely with TWC and Texas Education Code, Chapter 133 funded Apprenticeship Training Programs.

Responsibilities: Office of Apprenticeship is responsible for the administration of national apprenticeship standards in the United States. Additionally, Office of Apprenticeship is responsible for certifying the registration of apprentices and the number of approved related classroom instruction hours per year, according to locally approved apprenticeship training program standards. Apprentices shall be registered with Office of Apprenticeship before attending their first class.

D-400: Registered Apprenticeship Training Program Instructors

Role: Registered apprenticeship training program instructors provide an invaluable service in their communities' apprenticeship training programs by training hundreds of apprentices annually to ensure training is relevant to current industry needs. Local apprenticeship training committees recommend instructors to the LEA. Instructors generally have extensive experience as journeyworkers in their respective industries. In many programs, instructors must be certified or have attended approved instructor training classes. These certification programs and training classes provide instructors with the very best methods of teaching apprentices and necessary information for new technologies in the industry.

Responsibilities: Instructors ensure that the mentoring process is conducted on the job sites so apprentices can safely learn the necessary skills of their craft under the supervision of experienced journeyworkers. Instructors are encouraged to stay current in their fields by attending industry conferences, trade shows, workshops, and other continuing education opportunities.

D-500: Texas Workforce Commission

Role: TWC administers the Apprenticeship Training Program to help pay the costs of related classroom instruction for registered apprenticeship training programs. TWC distributes registered apprenticeship training program funds through a contracting process with the LEA. These funds assist with direct training-related instructional and administrative costs for programs around the state.

Responsibilities: TWC is responsible for distributing state funds for the support of registered apprenticeship training programs that meet specific criteria, as outlined in Texas Education Code, Chapter 133. TWC is also responsible for:

• providing public notice of available funds for potential registered apprenticeship training program sponsors;
• developing and maintaining a sufficient audit trail of all funds appropriated for a registered apprenticeship training program;
• adopting forms, formulas, rules, and administrative procedures for the distribution of available funds to registered apprenticeship training programs; and
• providing technical assistance through this Administrator's Guide, e-mail communications, on-site visits, conference calls, and workshops.

Note: TWC is not involved in the registration process or operation of actual apprenticeship training programs.

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