A Funding Guide For Supporting a Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program With Federal and State Funds

For the past several years, our nation experienced a negative impact on the educator talent pool. With fewer individuals entering the profession, particularly via traditional routes, and increased attrition, the educator workforce has declined (Learning Policy Institute, 2023). States, districts, and educator preparation programs (EPPS) are leveraging alternative pathways to establish a pipeline of teachers to fill the nation’s classrooms (Woods, 2016).

One such pathway is Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAPs). RTAP is an industry-vetted training model that is approved and validated by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) or a state apprenticeship agency and is designed to address teacher shortages and provide inclusive career pathways. This funding guide is designed to support RTAPs in accessing a variety of funding sources to support the recommended standards and design principles developed by the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers along with apprenticeship standards from the Pathway Alliance.