An excellent teacher is the top in-school factor for determining students’ success, and nearly every state has turned to registered teacher apprenticeship programs (RTAPs) to expand their pool of educator candidates.

While momentum continues to build, research on the experiences of teacher apprentices — especially those from under-represented backgrounds — has been limited. To address this gap, EdTrust and the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance (TECA) conducted a series of interviews with 32 apprentices of color in Tennessee and Texas. Based on qualitative interviews with the 32 candidates, EdTrust’s new report features recommendations for how programs can better support candidates, including:

1. Invest in strategic recruitment: Many candidates left researchers with the impression that their participation in an RTAP was more a matter of luck than a result of deliberate recruitment efforts.
2. Strengthen mentorship and program quality: Provide apprentices with adequate and valuable mentorship, including by establishing criteria for selecting mentor teachers and ensuring that apprentices are not used as long-term substitutes or as teachers of record.
3. Improve financial support and transparency: Make participation financially feasible for all candidates and communicate information on costs clearly. Although an apprenticeship is a more affordable pathway to a teaching career than a traditional four-year degree, participating in a teacher apprenticeship still puts financial burdens on candidates.

Investing in high-quality educator pathways demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that all students have skilled teachers who are well-prepared and deeply connected to their communities. To achieve this, passionate individuals of all backgrounds must have access to seamless, affordable, and flexible pathways that effectively prepare them to succeed and stay in the profession. Therein lies the promise of registered teacher apprenticeship programs (RTAPs).

Download the Report (PDF)

Photo by Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages