In January 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor approved Tennessee to become the first registered teacher apprenticeship program in the nation. A version of Grow Your Own, the Tennessee model creates partnerships between school districts and educator preparation programs, allowing high school graduates to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree and teaching certification at no cost. Teacher apprentices earn a living wage as they progress through the program with sustainable federal and workforce funds.
In this session, attendees will learn more about the promises and challenges of this innovative apprenticeship model. Session speakers will reflect on what this new teaching pathway means for state education systems and a post-pandemic economy. Participants will leave the session with an idea of how to create similar apprenticeship programs for their state and how federal approval could help.
