Registered Apprenticeship (RA) is a group of federal and state run programs that accredit on-the-job training for technical professions. RA is an ideal way to train STEM skills with no student loan debt, while creating jobs, and providing economic impact due to the real work performed by an RA during training. Furthermore, RA gives minorities and low-income trainees equal footing because RAs are payed to learn.
The FAR is the set of regulations that set how the federal government purchases products and services.
This petition asks President Obama to set RA as equivalent to a bachelor's degree in FAR sub-chapter D part 22 (Socioeconomic Programs, Application of Labor Laws to Government Acquisitions). This will give contractors incentive to hire RAs straight out of high school.