Quick Facts: Between lingering pandemic-era stress and retirements, the national shortage of Teachers has become a crisis; In recent years, States have implemented Apprenticeship Programs that cover tuition costs and pay students while they learn; and a Federally-supported program has brought down the cost of an education degree significantly for participants, while creating a model that might extend to School Leaders - such as Principals. Carl Smith at Governing reports on a new Apprentice Program that is attracting new teachers and helping existing Para-Professionals 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 currently 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 Para-Professionals, says Laurie Matzke, the Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction for North Dakota, adding the chance to keep jobs they love and earn certification at no cost is “like a miracle.”

To Continue Reading This Apprenticeship And Training Labor News Story, Go To: Teacher Apprentice Programs Are Spreading Like Wildfire

Graphic Courtesy Of preschool.org.