Virginia Department of Ed awarded $6M to develop teacher apprenticeship program

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has been awarded a $6 million State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF2) grant by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The funding is awarded in partnership with the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (Virginia Works) and will enable the VDOE to develop and expand Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway and pre-apprenticeship pathway opportunities in Virginia.

“The apprenticeship grant awarded today will help develop Virginia’s next generation of teachers through innovative programs and a proven approach giving our aspiring teachers financial assistance and a full year of in-school, apprenticeship training,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. “We know there are better ways to develop teachers, and that is by giving them an opportunity to grow within the school, complete their coursework in coordination with classroom experiences, and this model changes how we prepare teachers for the classroom. It is imperative that school districts and higher education work together to provide stronger opportunities to become the high-quality teachers our students deserve.”

The $6 million grant will enable Virginia to focus on expanding its registered apprenticeship program for K-12 educators and building pre-apprenticeship on-ramps into the teaching profession. During the 2023-2024 school year, 28 school divisions launched registered teacher apprenticeship programs.

Working with local school divisions and universities, the VDOE intends to allocate $2.55 million in competitive funding for teacher development using the apprenticeship model.  Through the initiative, 170 teacher apprenticeships are projected, along with new partnerships with 80 local education agencies (LEA).

The grant funds will enable the VDOE to expand high school Teacher for Tomorrow programs and develop classroom assistants to build pre-apprenticeship pathways for students while they are still in high school. VDOE will allocate $150,000 to support registered apprenticeship program for K-12 principals.

Virginia is working to reduce costs by offering apprenticeships with no tuition costs and providing full-time employment benefits. Under the model, aspiring Virginia teacher candidates can include paraprofessionals and other staff already working in the schools, dual-enrolled graduating high school seniors, or career switchers with an interest in classroom teaching. Apprenticeship programs will maximize the opportunity for aspiring educators to get classroom experiences and learn to become teachers alongside master teachers in their schools.

As partners in the grant award, VDOE and Virginia Works will work together to foster career exploration, skills development and a successful workforce apprenticeship model for the next generation of Virginia teachers.

VDOE will continue to partner with the National Center for Grow Your Own to support the expansion of effective registered apprenticeship programs throughout the Commonwealth.