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Board to Consider University of Minnesota NextGen Teacher Apprenticeship MOU at June 24 Meeting
Summary
Director Bennett told the board the district will present an MOU on June 24 to join the University of Minnesota NextGen teacher apprenticeship program, a two-year paid pathway for paraprofessionals to earn a bachelor27s degree and a tier-3 license while remaining employed in-district.
Director Bennett presented the University of Minnesota NextGen teacher apprenticeship program as an information item and said the district was invited to participate in program design. The apprenticeship is a two-year registered program that combines university coursework (mostly online through the U of M) and job-embedded training under a mentor teacher. Participating paraprofessionals (education assistants/paraprofessionals) with an AA degree would maintain their hourly pay, receive a small stipend increase during the on-the-job training year, and work toward a bachelor's degree and a tier-3 teaching license (examples mentioned: Academic Behavioral Specialist (ABS) or Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)).
Bennett said the program has Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board approval and is in final review with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry to be registered. The MOU required by Department of Labor and Industry must also be reached with the relevant bargaining units; Bennett said both unions involved (teachers and education assistants) have indicated approval in principle and the MOU will be before the board for formal approval at the June 24 meeting.
Board members asked about cohort size (Bennett said one enrolled and possibly one more at present), tuition support (U of M staff will help apprentices identify grants and aid and the university provides advising), and a post-completion commitment (the MOU asks for roughly a three-year service period but recognizes life changes and mobility). Board members also clarified that the apprenticeship target is primarily special-education paraprofessionals because of certification alignment.
Bennett and board members said the program is intended to expand "grow-your-own" pipelines for teachers and to make licensure pathways more accessible without forcing paraprofessionals to leave district employment for full-time student-teaching obligations.
The board did not vote on the MOU at this meeting; administration will present the MOU for action at the June 24 meeting.
