Registered Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a promising affordable pathway into teaching—when designed to meet rigorous standards for quality and sustainability.

From 2022 to 2024, the number of U.S. states building apprenticeship programs grew from 3 to 47, including D.C. and Puerto Rico. With a majority of states seeking to increase teacher recruitment, retention, and diversity in response to ongoing shortages and relatively high attrition rates in the profession, it’s no wonder this model has become incredibly popular as a pathway that can expand access into teaching.

Apprenticeship programs offer a myriad of benefits that can attract aspiring teachers, particularly aspiring teachers of color. These benefits could include:

• Early and integrated practice experiences for aspiring teachers that can foster their confidence and joy in preparation for the classroom.
• Paid on-the-job learning experiences that lower the total financial burden facing future teachers
• Meeting local workforce and staffing needs, including cultivating a more diverse workforce
• Highly-flexible pathways to attract a diverse array of aspiring teachers, including paraprofessionals, career-changers, and high school students. 

However, not all apprenticeship programs are created equally. These programs have the potential to be both accessible and high-quality, but only when meticulously designed and executed, and when adhering to federally approved guidelines.

At DFI, we believe that all pathways into teaching have the potential to contribute to a diverse, high-quality educator workforce. From traditional university degree programs to residencies to district-led initiatives, we are reasonably optimistic about the innovative ways organizations, institutions, and local education agencies are innovating to reimagine strategic staffing and the teacher pipeline. At the same time, we see a significant opportunity to uphold a high bar for educator excellence to ensure that these solutions are sustainable and can lead to all students accessing high-quality learning experiences.

Some of the ways we're committed to lifting up both quality and access in teacher apprenticeship programs, among other pathways into teaching, include:

• Co-authoring the National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards for K-12 Teacher Apprenticeships
• Championing these standards through national and state convenings
• Offering implementation advise to state education agencies, task forces, and other government bodies
• Conducting research to inform a deeper understanding of the details of programming and policy
• Elevating diverse stories of local challenges and innovations 

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