Principal Apprenticeships
2026 National Guideline Standards
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) approved the National Guideline Standards (NGS) for K–12 Principal Apprenticeship Programs, a project led by The Pathways Alliance and a coalition of leading education organizations. This landmark framework provides states and school districts with a formal roadmap to develop high-quality, registered apprenticeship pathways, ensuring school leaders are prepared to anchor the next generation of the educator pipeline.
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​Developed through the Pathways Alliance Principal Apprenticeship Working Group, the Principal NGS builds on the success of the previously established K–12 Teacher Apprenticeship standards, which helped expand teacher apprenticeships across the nation. This new framework establishes a recognized, scalable model for school leadership that combines rigorous on-the-job learning with related technical instruction, completing a vital link in the educator career ladder.
The Pathways Alliance, joined by Prepared to Teach, Educator Workforce Initiatives, and the NYS Educator Workforce Development Hub, will launch the inaugural Principal Apprenticeship State-Level and District-Level Cohorts. By selecting this first group of state and district leaders, the partnership is moving the nation from vision to action—developing a scalable, funded model for Registered Principal Apprenticeship Programs that strengthens leadership pipelines across the country.
Following a competitive application process, these cohorts will receive intensive technical assistance (TA) and structural support to bridge the gap between the recently approved National Guideline Standards (NGS) and successful on-the-ground programs. The program aims to increase the number of Registered Principal Apprenticeship Programs (RPAP) by 20% by the end of 2026, including expanding reach into Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.
"Establishing national standards was the first step; now, we are putting them into action with a group of visionary leaders," said Sabrina Baptiste, Program Director for The Pathways Alliance. "These cohorts are designed to turn policy into practice, providing these selected states and districts with the direct technical assistance, funding strategies, and peer networks they need to build sustainable, high-quality pathways for the next generation of school principals."
The Pathways Alliance offers two parallel tracks to meet the unique needs of these education leaders:
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State-Level Cohorts: Focusing on state education agencies and labor departments to align licensure with apprenticeship models, create statewide registration frameworks, and unlock federal and state funding streams (such as Title II and Perkins).
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District-Level Cohorts: Focusing on school districts and program sponsors to receive coaching on competency mapping, securing board buy-in, and partnering with higher education institutions for curriculum.
Starting in March 2026, participants will begin a 10-month journey involving monthly technical assistance sessions, expert guidance from dedicated TA Leads, and a mid-year in-person meetup to foster deep collaboration. Additionally, the work of these cohort members will be featured in national case studies to highlight successful implementation and provide a blueprint for the rest of the country.