​SAN JOSE, CA – For nearly a decade, Blue Ridge High School students have gotten a head start on rewarding careers in construction and related trades with skill-intensive curriculum and hands-on learning opportunities through the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA) pre-apprenticeship program.

Blue Ridge High students have earned a total of 165 industry-recognized certifications through the LiUNA pre-apprenticeship program since its launch. The school started offering the program in partnership with LiUNA, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE), and Santa Clara County Division of Juvenile Probation in 2018.

  

Students at Blue Ridge High – a court school for students at William F. James Ranch, a residential rehabilitative program for juveniles – pursue their high school diploma and college and career technical education programming as part of SCCOE’s Alternative Education Department. The school’s 14-week LiUNA program blends classroom learning with hands-on construction training. It gives students a pathway to earn 12 industry-recognized certifications, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10-Hour, CPR and first aid, and hazardous waste certifications.

“This program was created so the students come out with skills that are not only useful but marketable. What makes this program unique for us is that every certification students earn is the same one required on real job sites so once they’re done they can go right to LiUNA and start working as a union apprentice,” SCCOE Director of Alternative Education Dane Caldwell-Holden said. “While we focus on construction skills, we also emphasize social and academic development, taking a holistic approach to equip students for success in any path they choose.”

During its Feb. 5 meeting, the Santa Clara County Board of Education adopted a resolution recognizing February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. As part of this effort, the Board highlighted the program’s role in strengthening pathways and work-based learning opportunities that prepare students to be future-ready.

Blue Ridge’s LiUNA program is designed to mirror current industry trends so students are fully equipped to enter the workforce once they complete the program. The program has evolved over the last three years, with the addition of welding and forklift courses leading to additional certifications.

This year, the program introduced heavy-duty machinery, including a skip loader and skid steer, giving students additional opportunities for hands-on training, Caldwell-Holden said.

Students enrolled in the LiUNA program gain practical on-the-job training through a wide range of projects at the William F. James Ranch. The program has built multiple walkways on the campus, a large training platform, and an irrigation system, and is currently converting a long-unused greenhouse for future use in a horticulture pathway, Caldwell-Holden said.

In 2023, the program won a prestigious Glenn W. Hoffmann Exemplary Programs award from the Santa Clara County School Boards Association, which is presented annually to recognize school programs that significantly enhance student success.       

Santa Clara County high schools offer a range of CTE programs, including advanced manufacturing, automotive repair, business finance, computer science, engineering, and multimedia communications and design. SCCOE helps districts expand CTE courses and work-based learning opportunities through grants and community partnerships.  

“SCCOE is committed to expanding opportunities that empower students for success beyond high school,” Interim Superintendent Dr. Charles Hinman said. “The LiUNA pre-apprenticeship program at Blue Ridge High School is a testament to the power of hands-on learning and strong community partnerships. Through this program, students are gaining valuable skills, industry-recognized certifications, and a clear pathway to rewarding careers.”​