State of Ohio announces High School Tech Internship Program

Columbus City Schools high school students visit Meta’s New Albany Data Center as part of 2023 Ohio Tech Day.

Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, also the Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, announced the opening of applications for the State of Ohio's 2024 High School Tech Internship program.

Why this matters to Ohio

The program is part of the State’s efforts to increase the amount of Ohioans in in-demand career fields and is designed to provide Ohio students with a valuable experiences and an entry point into the tech industry while fulfilling the workforce needs of Ohio-based businesses.

"Tech internships for Ohio students offer invaluable real-world experience, providing insights into various local businesses and career paths," said Lt. Governor Husted. “Many high school students demonstrate readiness for work, making these internships a valuable tool for identifying talented young individuals that companies can recruit.”

Program details

The program is now open to enrollment applications from Ohio students and companies.

To participate in the program, individual students or school districts are required to reach out to the intermediary organizations in their region of Ohio. The six intermediaries facilitate the connection between high school students and businesses hosting the tech internship experiences.

Interns in the program will undertake responsibilities similar to entry-level positions in various tech roles such as software development, data analysis, cloud and IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, broadband/5G, advanced mobility, and more.

The benefit to businesses

Ohio employers hosting interns will receive reimbursement of up to 100% of the wages paid to interns, capped at $5,000 per intern. Additionally, employers have the opportunity to earn bonuses for each student who achieves specific industry-recognized credentials.

According to the State of Ohio's announcement, "to qualify for wage reimbursement, businesses must submit documentation to the Educational Entity proving the student was employed for a minimum of 120 hours and was paid at least $12 per hour."

In its inaugural year, the High School Tech Internship program facilitated internships for 510 Ohio students with 141 employers across Ohio.

The High School Tech Internship application period opened January 2nd and closes on June 14th, 2024.

For more information, please visit the State of Ohio’s program webpage.