Virginia receives $6M in teacher apprenticeship funding

Virginia is planning the development and expansion of teacher apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship pathway opportunities, thanks to a recent $6-million federal grant.

The State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grant from the U.S. Department of Labor will support the development and growth of registered apprenticeship programs for K-12 educators, helping the state provide $2.55 million in competitive grant funding to local school divisions and universities to fund about 170 teacher apprenticeships and new partnerships with about 80 local education agencies, according to state officials.

VDOE will use the grants funds 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. It also will allocate $150,000 to support a registered apprenticeship program for K-12 principals.

“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 Virginia 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.”

Virginia will work to reduce costs by offering apprenticeships with no tuition costs and providing full-time employment benefits, officials said in a release. As part of that 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. The apprenticeship programs will be designed to maximize the opportunity for aspiring educators to get classroom experiences and learn to become teachers alongside master teachers in their schools.

As partners in this grant award, VDOE and Virginia Works will work together to foster career exploration, skills development, and a workforce apprenticeship model, officials said.

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