Teacher Apprenticeships Strengthen the Workforce

Many state education agencies (SEAs) are addressing teacher shortages by creating and expanding alternative paths to the teaching profession. One fast-growing option is teacher apprenticeships, which provide paid, job-embedded supports to aspiring teachers.

Westat partners with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to enhance the capacity of SEAs and local education agencies (LEAs) through the Comprehensive Centers (CC) program. As the lead organization for the National Comprehensive Center (NCC) and 2 Regional Centers, Region 5 and Region 14, Westat is creating a growing range of resources, including podcasts, videos, and leading national work groups, to support teacher apprenticeships. 

Kristin Nafziger, MA, a Westat Associate Vice President for Education Studies and Region 14 CC Director, shares that “in the past 2 years, teacher apprenticeship has been an emerging and rapidly growing strategy for states as they work to strengthen the educator workforce and address teacher shortages. As more and more states pursue teacher apprenticeship, there is great value in learning from the experiences of those who are already implementing teacher apprenticeship programs. These timely resources meet states where they are so they can explore teacher apprenticeship and learn from other states.”

 R-TAPS Create a Talent Pipeline

Teacher shortages in the U.S., exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, pose significant challenges to the education system and impact the quality of education nationwide. They vary by subject area and geographic region, with critical gaps common in fields like STEM and special education and in rural and underserved urban communities.

In January 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) approved the first nationally registered K-12 Teacher Apprenticeship Program, creating a talent pipeline for prospective teachers. More than 30 states now have approved Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (R-TAPs).

Teacher apprenticeship is an “earn and learn” pathway to a teaching credential that provides structured, paid, on-the-job learning experiences combined with job-related technical instruction and mentorship. R-TAPs offer a promising strategy to recruit and retain talented educators while ensuring they gain the necessary skills to succeed in our classrooms.

How Westat Supports Teacher Apprenticeships

Through the NCC and Region 5 and Region 14 Regional Centers, we support the field with a growing set of resources for teacher apprenticeship programs.

Learning from Experts and Early Adopters

The NCC team led a Strengthening and Diversifying the Educator Workforce workgroup, bringing together Regional Centers to conduct needs sensing and to collaborate on strategies and resources. The workgroup created a professional learning series that allowed state leaders to learn from R-TAP experts and early adopters of teacher apprenticeship programs nationwide. Key takeaways are highlighted in a multimedia tool Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs: Paving the Road to the Teaching Profession. This tool supports education leaders as they explore successful R-TAPs and provides insights and strategies for recruiting, designing, and funding these programs. 

Elevating Voices From the Field

The Region 5 (Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) and Region 14 (Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas) CCs produced an exciting, limited series podcast, Teacher Apprenticeships: Voices from the Field, exploring the impact of R-TAPs in their states. Each episode uncovers the unique experiences of educators and apprentices participating in these programs. Listen and learn how teacher apprenticeship is changing the face of education—and changing lives.

Spotlighting State Examples

The Regional Centers are also highlighting innovative teacher apprenticeship programs in their states. Through program snapshots and video interviews, they’re sharing the facts, timelines, and lessons learned so other education agencies and aspiring educators can know what exists and what is possible. Check out the Arkansas, Tennessee, and West Virginia spotlights.

Learn More

• National Comprehensive Center website
• Region 5 Comprehensive Center website
• Region 14 Comprehensive Center website