The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has awarded $143,000 in grants to nine universities to develop teacher apprentice residency programs in partnership with nearby school divisions. The College of William & Mary was the recipient of one of those grants, receiving $16,000 to partner with Hampton City Schools and Newport News Public Schools.
The programs will allow school divisions to hire classroom aides, paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, and other unlicensed school employees as teacher apprentices and provide a mentored pathway for them to complete the coursework required to become fully licensed teachers.
“The Apprenticeship Planning Grants build on existing residency programs and local grow-your-own recruitment programs as a means of expanding the teacher pipeline,” said Jillian Balow, Virginia superintendent of public instruction.
In November 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor approved K-12 teaching as an “apprenticeable” occupation, qualifying teacher apprentice programs for funding through several federal workforce development grants administered by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. VDOE expects to complete the registration process with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (VDOLI), by the end of 2022.
VDOE will announce another round of grants early next year to support training for mentors, the hiring of new apprentices, and tuition assistance. Priority will be given to partnerships that received a planning grant in 2022.