Intermediates urge continued funding for registered special-education teacher apprenticeship; SF 949 laid over

Minnesota State Education Finance Committee members heard testimony on a registered special-education teacher apprenticeship program and a funding request tied to Senate File 949 on the morning of the committee hearing. Superintendents, apprentices and Minnesota State University, Mankato officials described a two-year, job-embedded pathway that leads paraprofessionals to a bachelor's degree and dual categorical licensure in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD).

The apprenticeship model, known in testimony as ITRAC or the registered teacher apprenticeship collaborative, pairs paraprofessionals with mentor ("journey") teachers, embeds coursework in the school day and provides tuition support. "This program has taken me from, you know, possibly becoming a teacher 4 or 5 years from now to becoming a licensed teacher in 2 years," apprentice Alvin Chambers told the committee. Chambers said the program paid his tuition and allowed him to reduce outside work and focus on classroom learning.

Superintendents said the model addresses an acute shortage of specially licensed staff in intermediate…