#PANeedsTeachers Applauds $4.2 Million Grant to Support Teacher Apprenticeships
Shapiro Administration Launches New Program to Help Rebuild the Teacher Pipeline
Harrisburg, PA - Today, #PANeedsTeachers applauded the Shapiro Administration for launching a $4.2 million grant program - Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeship (CTRA) - to support teacher apprenticeships in Pennsylvania. Expanding teacher apprenticeship programs is a key priority of #PANeedsTeachers. Interested parties, including school districts, educator preparation providers, and non-profits, can learn more about the grant opportunity here.
"Since the inception of the #PANeedsTeachers campaign, we have advocated for creating registered teacher apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania," said Laura Boyce, Pennsylvania Executive Director of Teach Plus and a leader with #PANeedsTeachers. "We're encouraged to see the launch of the registered teacher apprenticeship program, which will provide an important new pathway for those who want to enter the teaching profession. Along with the development and funding of Pennsylvania's student-teacher stipend program, funding for a registered apprenticeship program will make it possible to rebuild our teacher pipeline and fix our teacher shortage crisis. We have more work to do, and we hope the governor and legislature will continue focusing on the teacher shortage crisis. Still, these are important steps to improve conditions for future teachers and students in our classrooms."
Teacher apprenticeship is an innovative learn-while-you-earn approach to preparing teachers cost-effectively while potentially tapping into new streams of sustainable workforce funding. Teacher apprenticeships share many of the goals of grow-your-own-educator programs, another #PANeedsTeachers priority.
#PANeedsTeachers has held three summits examining the teacher shortage crisis and discussing solutions. The summits have brought together educators, experts, and advocates where they shared the ideas and initiatives that are working to get high-quality educators into the classroom.
The first #PANeedsTeachers summit in September 2022 featured Tennessee's grow-your-own grant program and first-in-the-nation registered teacher apprenticeship during the keynote. #PANeedsTeachers has advocated for this new pathway and supported its development.
Following the summits, #PANeedsTeachers have produced reports examining the teacher shortage crisis - #PANeedsTeachers: Addressing Pennsylvania's Teacher Shortage Crisis Through Systemic Solutions - and highlighting local success in rebuilding the teacher pipeline with its Solutions Playbook.
Several of the recommendations from these reports led to policy changes in the subsequent state budget, including student-teacher stipends and improved educator workforce data collection.
#PANeedsTeachers, a statewide coalition led by Teach Plus and the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE), has been leading efforts to alleviate the teacher shortage crisis. They produced two reports, including theSolutions Playbook, highlighting local success in rebuilding the teacher pipeline.
About Teach Plus and NCEE
Teach Plus: The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students' success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning, to create an education system driven by access and excellence for all. For more information, www.teachplus.org
NCEE: Since 1988, The National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) has been researching the world's best-performing education systems to give states and districts the tools they need to become world class. NCEE has been a leader in U.S. education from policy to practice, producing reports that have led to landmark national legislation, supporting states in redesigning their education systems, and providing rigorous, proven support to more education leaders than any other organization. NCEE's dedicated, diverse, and experienced staff are working with teachers, school leaders, district leadership teams, and state policymakers to create the highest-performing, most equitable systems of education in the world. For more information, visit www.ncee.org.
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