BOISE – The U.S. Department of Labor approved the State Board of Education’s Special Education (SPED) Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program.
In February, the Board’s K-12 Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program was also approved, and implementation of this program has already begun in six school districts and public charter schools across the state.
“Now that we have Registered Teacher Apprenticeship programs approved both for SPED and K-12 educators, participating school districts and charter schools have the opportunity to engage their best candidates in an ‘earn while you learn’ model of teacher training,” State Board President Dr. Linda Clark said. “Candidates, such as long-time paraprofessionals will be able to work fulltime under the supervision of an experienced certified mentor teachers and get paid while they learn. Traditional pathways for teachers to become certified require unpaid student teaching as part of the training and that can be extremely difficult for qualified candidates, especially in rural areas.”
In 2023, Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature approved Senate Bill 1069, which allowed the State Board of Education to begin sponsoring registered apprenticeships for educators.
“Teacher apprenticeships are one more tool available in Idaho to help address educator shortages and I am excited about the possibilities this program affords for candidates and all students,” Dr. Clark said.
More information about the State Board’s Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program is posted on the State Board of Education website: