The next round of the High School Tech Internship program is officially open for students and businesses to apply to participate. The program offers Ohio employers wage reimbursement for hosting high school interns in tech-related roles, helping businesses establish a recruitment pipeline while providing students with valuable work experience at an early age. Interns will perform job duties similar to those of entry-level employees in technology roles, including artificial intelligence, software development, data, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, broadband/5G, and other tech-focused fields. Employers can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of the wages paid to interns, with a cap of $5,000 per intern, to encourage businesses to hire high school students for these positions.

“Authentic work-based learning is critical for students to build the skills needed to succeed. Every door we can open to meaningful workplace experiences means students will be poised to embark on additional avenues to contribute, innovate, and create throughout their careers,” said Stephen D. Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. “The High School Tech Internship program provides students with opportunities to sharpen their skills. I’m excited to see how this will elevate their professional portfolios and strengthen Ohio’s future workforce.” For additional information, contact Christopher Stiel, assistant principal, New Albany-Plain Local Schools at stiel.1@napls.org.