Case Study: Texas

The rapid growth of uncertified teachers in Texas is negatively impacting student learning. Apprenticeship programs are viewed as a key solution.

52 percent of new teachers entering the workforce uncertified

4 months of learning students could lose by being taught by an uncertified teacher

13.4 percent of teachers leaving the classroom each year

Increasingly, state and local leaders see high-quality apprenticeship programs as a viable path to certification to counter these significant quality and retention challenges. challenges related to quality and retention. But what does the path to building, launching, and sustaining these programs look like in contexts across the state?

Across the 2024-25 school year, DFI will unearth best practices, lessons learned, new insights, and innovative initiatives led by Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAPs) in Texas that are working to address local teacher pipeline and student learning challenges. We will do so through:

Conducting and releasing a landscape analysis of all RTAPs in the state of Texas
Facilitating learning visits to at least three Texas programs or districts that are building, launching, or running RTAPs
Elevating stories through videos, interviews, program profiles, and other key artifacts from learning visits
Producing policy solutions and briefs for successful and sustainable implementation of teacher apprenticeship pathways at scale

“My experience as an apprentice helped me feel prepared and understand the different tasks and roles teachers play in the classroom and students' lives going into my first year of teaching...It truly felt like I was being invested in while I was investing in schools in my community."
-Zully Sanchez, former teacher apprenticeship at Dallas College

Zully Sanchez speaking behind a podium labeled US Department of Education

Interested in learning the ins and outs of high-quality apprenticeship programs?

We invite program leaders, district and school administrators, policymakers, and advocates to join us in one or more of the following ways:

Host a learning visit or tell us about your program

Are you thinking of building an RTAP or interested in hosting us for a future learning visit? We'd love to learn how you're planning to stand up your program as we put together case studies and share insights from best practices across Texas RTAPs. Connect with us or fill out the survey below if you are an RTAP:

Complete our Survey

Blue icon of a magnifying glass and browser window with video

Stay informed with our micro-case studies

Follow our newsletter on LinkedIn to get a virtual glance into the programs we’ll visit and highlight. You’ll get access to short interview clips, classroom observations, actionable guidance, and coursework samples we’ll roll out throughout the year that can help inform policies and/or practices in your local context.

Subscribe on LinkedIn

Blue icon of a gear with connecting lines to light bulb, clock, dollar sign, and person

Bookmark this page for news and resources

Bookmark this page for important information and resources on RTAPs in Texas. We partner with organizations like Educate Texas, Philanthropy Advocates, EdTrust-Texas, and more on advocacy and communications efforts that amplify the leadership of those building and sustaining high-quality Registered Apprenticeship programs. Or, let us know if there are additional resources that would be important for us to share:

Get in Touch