Most communities have Jr. Colleges, which could incorporate such a two-year program, as well as a jumping off place for those who choose to transfer to a 4-year school.
THERE'S the path. K-12 has enough tasks on their plate. Get them out. Even EARLY out for trades, and specialty services. The Comm Colleges AND the trade schools that are making a comeback will do a better job.
If you live in a state that can afford subsidizing AA, AS degrees, like Tennessee just did --- even better.
And the message to the K-12 gulag is -- you better RAISE the expectations and shoot for getting kids to that "post secondary" level or you've failed them completely. Their lives are gonna depend on it...
Labor laws inhibit effective training in apprenticeship programs..
In some trades maybe. If the Union is picky. But Unions are not really concerned with careers. They only care about the definition of "the job". Don't give a **** about your ten year job role. That's why they are endangered. Because the definition of jobs changes YEARLY now. And you have to be more flexible. Do the data entry or reporting related to the job. Maybe even part of the material acquisition.
So screw them. Other than construction -- apprenticeships work fine and benefit both sides of the deal..
Kinda flaky that GOVT can have all the apprentices they want -- but make laws that prohibit it because it's predatory or not "fairly compensated". It's ON THE JOB TRAINING. Not employment in the strict sense.
If they unions didn't SQUEAL about it -- there wouldn't be so many laws.