Teacher apprenticeship programs as an approach to mitigating teacher shortages¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · 3 claims (3 for) · 2 studies (1 qualitative, 1 design), q1–q2 · 0 of 2 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description¶

Teacher apprenticeship programs are presented as a relatively new approach to mitigating teacher shortages. REL Central is supporting two partnerships using this approach: the Mitigating Teacher Shortages in Wyoming through a Teacher Apprenticeship Program partnership and the Strengthening the Teacher Pipeline in South Dakota to Alleviate Teacher Shortages partnership. The publication notes that states interested in implementing such programs might consider decisions captured in an accompanying infographic.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• State or regional systems seeking to address teacher shortages, as in the REL Central region where addressing teacher shortages is among systems' highest education priorities.

Constraints¶

• The publication states there is minimal rigorous research available on the development and implementation of teacher apprenticeship programs.

Target Learners¶

• Teacher apprenticeship participants and prospective teachers in Wyoming and South Dakota partnerships

Target Learning Goals¶

• Preparing and certifying teachers to enter and remain in the public school workforce

Claims¶

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor estimates 567,000 fewer teachers in public schools in 2022 than prior to the COVID-19 pandemic [+W]
• Minimal rigorous research is available on the development and implementation of teacher apprenticeship programs [+W]
• Apprenticeship expansion into nontraditional industries such as healthcare and education accelerated during the pandemic [+W]

Related Elements¶

• Teach For America alternate-route teacher preparation program

Examples¶

• Use an infographic of key decisions to guide states considering teacher apprenticeship programs

Key Sources¶

• Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Central. (2024). Seven Questions to Consider About Teacher Apprenticeship Programs. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/seven-questions-to-consider-about-teacher-apprenticeship-programs