More than a decade ago, I covered the opening of a tuition-free charter school aimed at growing the Fox Cities’ advanced manufacturing workforce.
Students are still enrolling at Appleton Technical Academy, getting hands-on experience, accessing paid apprenticeships and completing courses for college credit.
So I wondered: How is the school really doing? Has it met the goals education and industry leaders set?
I pitched the idea to reporter Miranda Dunlap, and she dug in.
Her reporting shows mixed results, and it’s a strong example of the type of solutions journalism we prioritize at Wisconsin Watch.
‘Can’t do this alone’: An Appleton school prepares students for skilled trades. It’s not easy.
Appleton Technical Academy students like hands-on classes, enroll in paid apprenticeships and collect free college credit before continuing on to trade school. But the school has struggled to attract students, combat a persistent stigma around technical education and afford equipment and tools.
Solutions journalism is just what it sounds like: rigorous, evidence-based reporting on responses to problems.
Every solutions journalism story reports on four elements:
- The response to the problem.
- Evidence on how the response is (or isn’t) working.
- Insights.
- And limitations.
ATECH was created to address a shortage of advanced manufacturing employees in the Fox Cities.
The response from local industry and education leaders was to create a public charter school housed inside Appleton West that would not only introduce students to these careers, but also jump-start their journey to a certification or degree in the field. The story examines how the school got started, the application process and the four areas students can choose to study.
Nuance comes in with the evidence. Data or anecdotes fit the bill. Miranda’s story includes comments from ATECH students about why they chose to enroll. Their thoughts illustrate the need for the school.
However, the industry leader who helped found the school told Miranda ATECH didn’t become the employee pipeline he hoped. His business is no longer closely tied to the school.
The limitations of ATECH vary. The cost to run the school is one challenge. It takes a lot of metal to teach students how to weld, for example. School leaders look for donations from businesses to help with supplies and equipment.
They also mentioned a stigma that the broader public has against technical education.
Insights tend to be the trickiest pillar. I try to answer this question when I look for insights: What nuggets of information would be important to know if I were trying to implement this response in my community?
For ATECH it’s the need for industry mentors. The school needs those connections not only for students to meet professionals working in the field, but also to teach ATECH educators how to use the latest technology.
Miranda also includes context about the push for more career and technical education training, as well as how these efforts are funded at the state and federal levels.
I hope you read her story to get a full, unvarnished look at how ATECH is doing.
And if reading this sparked an idea for a story, send it my way: jzvandenhouten@wisconsinwatch.org.
Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our newsletters for original stories and our Friday news roundup.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
