HAGERSTOWN, MD (March 31, 2016) – Local and state business leaders and elected officials have been invited to a kickoff reception for the Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) Apprenticeship Maryland program. The event will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2016 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Education Services, 10435 Downsville Pike, Hagerstown. WCPS has been selected with Frederick County Public Schools as the two school systems in Maryland to pilot the program. Partnering with the school systems are the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Apprenticeship Maryland is designed to provide greater exposure for students to business and industry career opportunities. Under the program guidelines, local businesses would take on students in apprentice positions in order for the students to gain knowledge and skills about many and varied jobs and careers while working for the business.

The reception will serve to introduce business leaders to the program and provide an immediate opportunity to become a partner with WCPS.

Dr. Clayton Wilcox, superintendent of Washington County Public Schools, has high hopes for the partnerships that will result. “The opportunity to provide our students real-world experience with some of our finest business and industry partners will serve several important purposes. Our students will benefit from the experience, businesses will gain manpower and WCPS will learn more about the needs of business and industry so we can better prepare our students for careers.”