Sustain teacher residencies through blended federal and state funding, including TQP grants, ESSER funds, and dedicated state investments¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The report describes a range of funding sources states use to launch and sustain residencies. The Teacher Quality Partnership grant program is a primary federal vehicle; despite being authorized at $300 million annually, it was funded at just $70 million for fiscal year 2024. States have also used one-time ESSER funds — the Council of Chief State School Officers estimates states spent at least $79.1 million on residencies — Title II, Part A of ESSA, IDEA Part D, and AmeriCorps. California's investment, totaling more than $670 million over 5 years, is the largest in the nation, and New Mexico's grew from $1 million in 2019 to $15.5 million in 2022.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• upfront investment to support paid, yearlong, intensive clinical preparation through district–preparation-program partnerships

Constraints¶

• Federal COVID-19 relief funds are one-time; the report suggests ESSER investments could serve as a model for scaling future federal investments.

Target Learners¶

• teacher residency candidates and the PK–12 students they will teach

Target Learning Goals¶

• building a well-prepared, equitably distributed, and stable teacher workforce

Related Strategies¶

• Sustain and expand residency pathways through maintained state grant funding, financial aid, apprenticeship structures, and technical assistance
• Recommendations for sustainable and affordable residency programs: align with LEA strategy, engage system leaders, dedicate sustainability roles, and run affordability analyses
• Federal policy should invest in high-quality professional learning for educators, prioritizing preparation and professional development designs including teachers teaching teachers
• State policy levers for sustaining yearlong, stipended clinical preparation: require or incentivize full-year stipended clinical experience, fund partnerships, and reduce testing fees
• District investment of LCFF funds in residency stipends written into Local Control and Accountability Plans as a workforce development strategy
• Five state policy actions to sustain and scale teacher residencies

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Saunders, R., Fitz, J., DiNapoli, M. A., Jr., & Kini, T. (2024). Teacher residencies: State and federal policy to support comprehensive teacher preparation. Learning Policy Institute & EdPrepLab. https://doi.org/10.54300/358.825