K-12 Teacher Apprenticeships
Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs offer an alternative to traditional preparation that addresses both teacher shortages and retention. This page brings together Pathways Alliance research, standards, and recorded sessions on designing and scaling quality programs. The Department of Labor-approved National Guideline Standards for Teacher Apprenticeships outline the requirements and responsibilities programs must meet.
2023 National Guideline Standards
Alongside federal, state, and local workforce and education leaders, the Pathways Alliance has developed comprehensive guidelines for high-quality educator apprenticeship programs based on field data. Published by the U.S. Department of Labor, the guidelines establish the requirements and responsibilities apprenticeship programs must fulfill. In addition, they provide a work process schedule that outlines the professional and pedagogical skills to be attained during their apprenticeship.
Compendium of K-12 Teacher Apprenticeship Programs
The Pathways Compendium of K-12 Teacher Apprenticeships is a comprehensive resource designed to build awareness for high-quality, field-based educator preparation models. Curated by the Pathways Alliance, this collection serves as a vital guide for local and state workforce boards, providing model implementations to support and scale quality within Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAP) nationwide.
Closing the Gap: How Evidence-Based Preparation Furthers Positive Student Outcomes
This resource explores how high-quality, experience-based preparation is essential to building a diverse and effective educator workforce. Learn how Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAPs) address teacher shortages by removing financial barriers and providing the hands-on training necessary to improve student outcomes and close representation gaps.
Responding to the Data: How Texas is Re-Thinking Teacher Certification
States are increasingly turning to emergency waivers to address persistent teacher shortages, with Texas offering a clear example of how these policies play out in practice. Grounded in research from Texas Tech University, this resource examines how classroom experience and structured preparation shape student outcomes and inform more effective teacher pathways.
Strengthening the Teacher Pipeline from Preparation to Practice: Webinar Recording
With 44% of new teachers leaving the profession within their first few years, education is facing a critical crossroads. Retention isn't just a workforce statistics issue – it is a reflection of how we prepare and support our educators for the complexities of today’s classrooms. This session offers solutions and strategies for policymakers, Educator Preparation Programs, and system leaders committed to strengthening the workforce and ensuring every student is taught by a well-prepared, well-supported educator.
Preliminary Implementations Recommendations for K-12 Apprenticeship Data Infrastructure & Reporting to the U.S. Dept. of Labor
High-quality data is essential to building, sustaining, and scaling effective educator apprenticeship programs. The Pathways Alliance supports the development of clear, standards-aligned data systems that connect preparation, practice, and workforce outcomes. This page offers tools, frameworks, and resources from our active working group to help states, districts, and preparation providers design data infrastructure that supports continuous improvement, ensures compliance, and enables meaningful reporting on apprenticeship progress and impact.