Summary
Waukee Community School District has been awarded a competitive grant of $1,145,826 to participate in Iowa's new Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Program. This initiative aims to enhance the educator pipeline by allowing high school students to earn paraeducator certificates and associate degrees while working in classrooms, alongside supporting adult paraeducators to obtain their bachelor’s degrees through partnerships with local colleges.
This program is part of a statewide effort to address the shortage of educators and create a more diverse teaching workforce, as recommended by the Task Force on Growing a Diverse K-12 Teacher Base. With funding sourced from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the initiative will impact over 1,000 educators and students across 134 schools, ultimately fostering the development of hundreds of new teachers and paraeducators in Iowa.
Why this matters for apprenticeships
This development highlights the growing recognition of registered apprenticeships as a viable pathway into education careers, particularly for underrepresented groups. By integrating work experience with educational advancement, the program not only supports individual career growth but also strengthens the overall educational workforce, making a lasting impact on communities.
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