RAPs in the Educational Services Sector Continue to Address Labor Shortages Across the Country

86% of K-12 public schools in the United States reported that they were facing challenges hiring teachers for the 2023-2024 school year, continuing the trend of a shortage of teachers nationally[1]. In response to this, many entities including the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL) and Education (DOE) have started to explore new pathways to teacher education and certification, including registered apprenticeship (RA).

Tennessee was the first state to register an apprenticeship for teaching in January 2022[2] which built upon their existing “Grow Your Own” model and leverages both state and federal funds for sustainable funding opportunities[3]. The Biden-Harris Administration has made it a priority to promote the creation of new equitable career pathways in the education sector, including the release of a joint Dear Colleague Letter authored by the Secretaries of DOL and DOE in August 2022 which encouraged the development of quality RAs for teachers.

DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship (OA) approved National Guidelines for a K-12 teacher competency-based apprenticeship on July 27, 2023[4]. States do not have to follow these guidelines, however, they can be used as a basis for their own plans. In collaboration with Urban Institute, the OA has created and published competency based occupational frameworks for apprenticeships in the following occupations: early childhood educator, K-12 teacher, and teacher aide 1.

As of July 2023, 21 states have at least one registered apprenticeship program (RAP) for teachers, however, that is not the only high-demand apprenticeable occupation in the educational sector. Currently, K-12 teacher, teacher’s aide, early childhood educator, childcare development specialist, early childhood/pre-k teacher, direct support specialist, and teaching assistant are all occupations in the educational sector which can utilize the apprenticeship model to help grow the pipeline of future educators in America.

America Building Apprenticeship (ABA) grantees Dallas College, the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, and the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Education & Learning Trust have been working to create RAPs in the education sector with their grant funds. In Fall 2022, Dallas College was the first to launch a paid teacher apprenticeship program in Texas and has since expanded the program into other partner school districts. The South Dakota Board of Labor and Regulation has partnered with the South Dakota Department of Education to pilot a two-year Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway which aims to provide educational support staff a pathway to earning a teaching certificate[5]. You can learn more about NYSUT’s efforts in Strategies for Establishing Teacher RAPs from ABA Grantee NYSUT Education & Learning Trust, which highlights best practices and lessons learned during their process thus far.

The apprenticeship landscape in the U.S. continues to expand to meet the needs of the economy and job market, as seen by the creation of apprenticeships in the education sector with the hopes that it will help alleviate the national shortage of teachers.

• Last Updated:
• Created:
• Posted by: Anna O'Connell
• Posted in: Apprenticeship Building America