Get ready to be blown away by some fantastic news! In August 2022, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education secretaries joined forces to release a groundbreaking letter proposing an evidence-based and equitable solution to address nationwide teacher shortage challenges - teaching apprenticeships. They suggested that apprenticeship could be the key to unlocking the potential of teachers across the country, and encouraged states to establish top-notch Registered Apprenticeship Programs for teachers. And boy, did it work! Since this game-changing publication, over 10 states have already set up their own Registered Apprenticeship Programs for teachers, with more in the pipeline, and just last week the Department of Labor released an RFP for states to design and grow more of these programs.

Teaching apprenticeships can provide individuals with hands-on training and experience in education. These programs typically involve a combination of classroom instruction and practical experience in real-world teaching settings, such as schools or community centers.

The Pathways Alliance brings together a diverse set of organizations working on educator preparation, including teacher residency programs, institutions of higher education, nonprofits implementing EPPs, and organizations focused on increasing diversity and improving equity and inclusion in education. A primary goal of the alliance is to ensure educator preparation programs are anchored in equity, including addressing systemic barriers to access for underrepresented educator populations. Teaching apprenticeships aim to prepare individuals for a career with competitive wages and benefits and ensure that apprentices have access to educational resources and training opportunities that can help them develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the teaching profession.

The idea for the Pathways Alliance stemmed from the notion that an uncommon alliance was needed to address problems of national relevancy and policy - while also ensuring the ability for those policies to be attuned to the local conditions in which they were operating. The first two problems of policy and practice that the Alliance has taken on are a lack of a shared definition of a teacher residency and clear, consistent, and equitable guidelines for an apprenticeship. Bringing together a deep and expansive evidence base and partners' experiences, we have developed educator-centric definitions of both types of programs. Without a shared language and design principles to create structures, we couldn't learn together and advocate for the ability to facilitate an effective practice.

The Pathways Alliance has drafted a set of national apprenticeship guideline standards to ensure that states, districts, and community organizations create equitable and sustainable opportunities in the apprenticeship pathway. Teaching apprenticeships require careful planning, implementation, and evaluation. Planning steps that Pathways Alliance has deemed necessary for achieving this goal include:

-- Developing a transparent and inclusive program mission: The program should clearly define the goals and objectives of the apprenticeship and ensure that they align with principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The program should provide equal opportunities for all participants, regardless of their background, identity, or prior experience.

-- Recruiting a diverse cohort of apprentices: The program should actively recruit apprentices from diverse backgrounds and communities and prioritize underrepresented candidates in education. In addition, recruitment efforts should be inclusive and accessible, providing support and resources to candidates throughout the application process.

-- Developing comprehensive training and support: The program should provide apprentices with extensive training and support, including orientation sessions, mentorship, ongoing feedback, and professional development opportunities. In addition, the training should be tailored to the needs and interests of each apprentice and should prioritize building skills relevant to the field's current needs.

-- Fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment: The program should create a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive learning environment for all apprentices. This includes providing opportunities for apprentices to connect, creating a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, and ensuring that all apprentices have access to the resources and support they need to succeed.

-- Monitoring and evaluating program outcomes: The program should regularly monitor and assess its effects, using quantitative and qualitative data to measure its success in achieving its goals. The evaluation should include feedback from apprentices, mentors, and other stakeholders and be used to make ongoing improvements to the program.

Teaching apprenticeships have the potential to positively change the future of education in several ways. Apprenticeships can help:

-- Address the teacher shortage: Teaching apprenticeships can help address the need for qualified teachers in many areas by providing a pathway for individuals to enter the profession and gain the necessary skills and experience to become an educator.

-- Increase diversity in the teaching profession: By providing accessible and equitable opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to enter the profession, teaching apprenticeships can help increase the diversity of educators in classrooms.

-- Improve teacher quality: Teaching apprenticeships provide a combination of classroom instruction and practical experience, which can help develop high-quality teachers who are well-equipped to meet the needs of students.

-- Encourage innovation: Teaching apprenticeships allow experimentation and innovation in teaching methods and approaches. As a result, apprenticeships can lead to the development of new and effective teaching practices that benefit students.

-- Create stronger connections between schools and communities: Teaching apprenticeships in local schools and community centers allow educators to build stronger relationships with their communities. This can lead to meaningful partnerships and collaborations that benefit students and families.