United States Department of Labor Approves Alaska’s Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2024

JUNEAU, AK - Commissioner Bishop announced at Thursday's State Board of Education meeting that on December 3, 2024, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) approved the Department of Education and Early Development's (DEED) application to establish the Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program (T-RAP). This groundbreaking initiative enables aspiring educators to gain practical experience and mentorship while working in their local schools, helping them become certified teachers.

The program builds on recommendations from Governor Dunleavy's Teacher Retention and Recruitment (TRR) Working Group to expand pathways for paraprofessionals and community members to become teachers, strengthening Alaska's teacher pipeline. In January 2023, the State Board of Education passed a resolution to establish a registered apprenticeship pathway, underscoring the critical need for transformative workforce solutions for Alaska's schools.

T-RAP is a key strategy to address Alaska's teacher shortage, integrating on-the-job learning with academic coursework and mentorship. The program creates accessible pathways for paraprofessionals, career changers, and other community members to enter the teaching profession without leaving their communities.

"The Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program represents Alaska's commitment to growing our own educators by investing in local talent," said Commissioner Deena Bishop of DEED. "This initiative will help ensure our schools are staffed with educators who are deeply connected to their communities and fully equipped to meet the diverse needs of our students."

Partnerships with statewide agencies, universities, school districts, tribes, and unions have been critical in developing T-RAP. The program will launch as a pilot in Spring 2025 and expand statewide by Fall 2025, reflecting a shared commitment to addressing Alaska's unique educational challenges and preparing high-quality teachers.

For more information about the Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, contact Kelly Manning at [email protected].

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The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development provides information, resources, and leadership to support over 130,000 students in 505 public schools across the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to ensure an "Excellent Education for Every StudentEvery Day."

Media Contact: Bryan Zadalis, Public Information Officer