Students may access workforce training thanks to Idaho Advanced Opportunities

Students in Idaho will now have the option to learn trade skills early thanks to changes in the Idaho Advanced Opportunities program.

For years, the Advanced Opportunities program has allowed $4,125 for any student in grades 7 through 12 for programs including exams for programs such as Advanced Placement, dual credit with college courses and overload classes, said Jeralyn Mire, a post-secondary transition counselor at Sandpoint High School.

This year, however, students also have the opportunity to use up to $500 a semester or $1,000 a year to go toward workforce training including firefighting, HVAC, plumbing, EMT training, patient care, and dental and nursing assistantships.

Michelle Garrett, an employment and training services program specialist at North Idaho College, said the program caters toward students who have specific career goals but don’t want to go through all the courses that might typically be required at a four-year university.

“Say they want to do a HVAC apprenticeship without having to do a bunch of other courses,” she said. “They leave highly employed and it’s very accelerated learning.”

The program is also valuable for students wanting to explore different career possibilities, Mire said.

“A lot of 18-year-olds don’t think they want to be a plumber,” she said. “It’s trying to plant a seed.”

Many of the courses may have some out-of-pocket costs that are not covered by IAO, so students are still encouraged to apply for the numerous scholarships that are available, Garrett said. These scholarships can often either cover or greatly reduce students’ costs.

So far no students at SHS have opted for the workforce training, Mire said, however, other students who used the Advanced Opportunities program were able to get all their costs paid for by a combination of state funds and scholarship money.

The program is also available to homeschool students if they are enrolled in the school system part-time, Mire said.

Students can access the Advanced Opportunities programs until their graduation, Garrett said. This year, that date was extended for seniors to last until December of 2020 due to challenges brought on by COVID-19.

“I’m appreciative that the state is honoring some of those skilled trades,” Garrett said. “It’s a huge need in our community.”

North Idaho College will be hosting a virtual Workforce Bound All Things Senior Night at 6 p.m. on November 10 where families can learn more about workforce training. Students and families can join at https://nic.zoom.us/j/91818780184.

More information can also be found at www.nic.edu/wtcdualcredit.

NIC will also host a Military Bound night at 6 p.m. on Oct. 20. Families and students can join at https://nic.zoom.us/j/92574264369.