A new apprentice program is attracting new teachers and helping existing paraprofessionals earn certification. The U.S. Department of Labor is now allowing teachers to be included in its Registered Apprenticeship program, opening up access to federal dollars to cover the costs of teacher training. In some participating states, the cost of an education degree has come down to $20,000 on average.
The Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program is helping North Dakota schools attract people with a passion for teaching but put off by the cost of a degree, unsure they could ever pay back the debt on a teacher’s salary. Many who take advantage of it are single mothers already working as school paraprofessionals, says Laurie Matzke, assistant superintendent of public instruction for North Dakota. The chance to keep jobs they love and earn certification at no cost is “like a miracle.”
“We’ve had a severe teacher shortage for quite a while now, especially in the area of special education,” she adds.
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