Growing and diversifying the STEM/STEAM educator workforce through Registered Apprenticeship

November 8 is National STEM & STEAM Day. This day provides an opportunity to recognize the increasing power Registered Apprenticeship programs have in growing and diversifying the STEM/STEAM educator workforce—which is critical for the overall success and future of our workforce in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. 

According to recent data, 1 in 8 teaching positions nationally are unfilled or filled by teachers not fully certified for their assignments. The U.S. Department of Education’s Raise the Bar Initiative highlights how the national educator shortage is particularly acute in STEM fields: 37 states projected a shortage of qualified teachers in both math and science. We also know that the current STEM educator workforce does not reflect the diversity of their classrooms. 

As states and districts across the country seek to grow and diversify their STEM/STEAM educator workforce, Registered Apprenticeship programs offer viable solutions to help meet those needs. Since 2022, 46 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have registered K-12 teacher apprenticeship programs and over 4,400 K-12 teacher apprentices have been trained. This growing educator workforce strategy combines paid, on-the-job learning with a mentor and supplemental education to prepare apprentices for a career in teaching. Sponsors address specific local and state educator workforce shortages, including in key subject areas such as science and math. 

Enhancing the diversity of the educator workforce by attracting a greater number of candidates from underrepresented communities is a fundamental objective of many Registered Apprenticeship programs within the education sector. As Ann Hlabangana-Clay, a program sponsor from the Delaware Department of Education, noted recently, “Part of our mission is and was to be able to create pathways for those who may not have had that opportunity.” 

At the Department of Labor, we recognize the importance of supporting states and districts as they invest in their future educator workforce. In 2023, we awarded an industry intermediary contract to RTI International’s Educator Registered Apprenticeship Division to provide technical assistance to states, districts and other partners in designing, developing, and implementing Registered Apprenticeship programs for growing the educator workforce. The organization has developed a range of resources educating K-12 professionals and school systems on the benefits of Registered Apprenticeship, including: 

• A video on establishing a Registered Apprenticeship to recruit and develop K-12 teachers. 

• A video featuring Registered Apprenticeship administrators and teacher apprentices discussing the value and impact of Registered Apprenticeship programs in recruitment and preparation.

• A report on lessons learned from teacher residencies that apply to Registered Apprenticeship.

Those interested in starting or expanding an educator Registered Apprenticeship program to meet your workforce needs, whether that is in STEM, STEAM or another area, can contact Educator Registered Apprenticeship to learn more.

Get Involved in National Apprenticeship Week

Help us celebrate the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week (Nov. 17-23, 2024) by attending an apprenticeship event, which can be found on apprenticeship.gov. There are virtual and in-person options, and you can search by industry, event type, location and more. On Nov. 19, the day of National Apprenticeship Week focusing on ‘Registered Apprenticeship in New and Emerging Industries and Around the Globe’, Educator Registered Apprenticeship will be facilitating an information session to highlight principal apprenticeships, an emerging occupation within the K-12 sector. 

Manny Lamarre is the deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.