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Georgia Consortium of Advanced Technical Training (GA CATT)
GA CATT Program first of its kind in the United States -
At left: Stefanie Jehlitschka, vice president of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States, and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle swap portfolios as they sign the memorandum of understanding creating GA CATT.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle launched the Georgia Consortium of Advanced Technical Training (GA CATT) Program, the first of its kind in the United States, on May 16, 2016 with the Central Educational Center, Coweta County’s College and Career Academy. The program unites the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S., Inc. with the Technical College System of Georgia and eight Coweta County manufacturing companies. Beginning in the 10th grade, high school students will now have the opportunity to complete their education with a high school diploma, German apprenticeship certificate and an associate degree in Industrial Mechanics through West Georgia Technical College.
Georgia is the first state to secure these kinds of dynamic workforce development opportunities in the nation. Coweta began by selecting 11 10th grade students to take part in this world-class program.
Lt. Gov. Cagle joined representatives from the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S., Inc., the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Technical College and the Central Educational Center to sign the memorandum of understanding, formalizing the agreement between all stakeholders to begin the inaugural program, known as GA CATT.
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GA CATT allows students to begin their apprenticeship in the 10th grade with a combination of traditional high school classes, college-level manufacturing courses, and apprenticeship modules that pay $8/hour. By the 12th grade, students will spend 80 percent of their day learning at the manufacturing site earning $12/hour. The German model has proven effective in securing skilled labor while increasing student motivation by securing a professional career track for students at no additional cost for them or their families.Participating manufacturers include Blickle, Grenzebach, E.G.O. Gerresheimer, Grenzebach, Kason Industries, WinPak, and Yokogawa, who work in conjunction with the Coweta County School System to ensure the curriculum is relevant to the employment need facing each company while hosting student apprentices through their work-based learning. The Coweta County Development Authority, along with Georgia Institute of Technology’s Georgia Manufacturing Extension Project and Center for Young Worker Safety and Health, serve GA CATT in an oversight and advisement role.
The Georgia General Assembly acted in the interest of forward-thinking dual enrollment programs with the passage of Senate Bill 2 during the 2015 Legislative Session. Now, local boards of education have the ability to award a high school diploma to students who dual enroll while they fulfill specific high school requirements along with specific college requirements. Coweta County’s Central Educational Center, their College and Career Academy, is instrumental in this process as they provide primary support for students interested in the program, manage the apprenticeship modules and track the overall educational status of the enrolled students.
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Read about the first graduates of the GA CATT apprenticeship program in the Summer 2019 issue of THRIVE!
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