Upper Darby School District staff described an initiative to pursue designation as a Pennsylvania certified teacher registered apprenticeship site and to apply for a supporting grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry intended to help districts develop apprenticeship pathways into teaching. Dr. Manfry and James Finch led the presentation and said the effort is intended to expand recruitment and training options amid reported teacher shortages.
The nut graf: The district is pursuing state apprenticeship designation and a grant opportunity (the Department of Labor and Industry announced approximately $4.2 million in grant funding statewide) to establish structured pre‑baccalaureate pathways into teaching — the presentation focused on pre‑K–4 and K–12 special education pathways — and said partnerships with the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, Delaware County Community College and Point Park will support curriculum and certification alignment; timeframes depend on state frameworks still in development.
Finch reviewed prior local efforts, including a board‑approved plan to fund 24 instructional assistants at the kindergarten level that was removed from the final budget for fiscal reasons and therefore not implemented. He said the district has been working with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the Office of Workforce Development (PA CareerLink partner) and the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, which is developing templates and resources to streamline apprenticeship applications for school districts.
Staff described the grant as a two‑year funding opportunity (presenter cited July 2025 to July 2027 as a grant period example) to support program development, related technical instruction partnerships and on‑the‑job training. Finch said apprentices could include high school graduates with no college experience, paraprofessionals, or individuals partway through college; the program the district is designing would define a structured on‑the‑job training plan and courses that lead to Pennsylvania level‑1 teacher certification for the identified pathways.
Board members asked about eligibility, retention commitments and mentor supports. Finch said prior local agreements required a six‑year commitment from participants who received district‑funded college tuition, with repayment obligations if they left early; the district indicated a similar contract could be used for apprentices. Staff said the post‑baccalaureate pathway (for already‑degreed or emergency‑certified adults) would remain in the district’s current certification support system, and the apprenticeship focus at this stage is the pre‑baccalaureate route.
Finch and Manfry said the district has engaged Delaware County Community College and Point Park (letters of support referenced) to provide related technical instruction and noted Point Park has a pathway that may reduce or alter Praxis‑type requirements. Staff asked the committee to forward the apprenticeship proposal and permission to pursue grant opportunities to the March legislative board meeting; committee members expressed support and the item was included in the consensus to move agenda items for board action.