DEED: More than 80 teacher apprentices statewide as state uses SAFE grant to fund tuition and mentor stipends
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Summary
Deputy Director Kelly Manning told the Senate subcommittee DEED received $1,128,000 under the State Apprenticeship Expansion (SAFE) grant this year to fund teacher apprenticeships, and that as of February there were more than 80 apprentices across sponsors and 47 DEED-sponsored apprentices; DEED is partnering with REL Northwest on evaluation and reported a 16% response rate to a teacher turnover survey.
Kelly Manning, deputy director for the Division of Innovation and Education Excellence at the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, described DEED's use of the State Apprenticeship Expansion (SAFE) grant and other federal funds to build teacher registered-apprenticeship pathways.
"Through that funding, we were able to get 1,128,000 for this year," Manning said, describing a three-year award that DEED is using for apprentice tuition, mentor stipends, travel and mentor training supplied by the Alaska State Mentor Project. Manning said the SAFE funding and Title II-A set-asides are being used to support apprentices who are DEED-sponsored and those under other regional sponsors.
Manning reported that DEED directly sponsors 47 apprentices and that there were over 80 apprentices across all sponsors as of February, and that the program is growing rapidly. She explained sponsor roles (employers, regional organizations or institutions that handle Department of Labor reporting) and said DEED provides policy models and reporting support so districts can focus on mentorship and candidate selection.
On evaluation, Manning said DEED is working with the Regional Education Lab Northwest and the National Center for Grow Your Own to design long-term metrics. She noted that measuring student outcomes will take time because many apprentices are completing post-baccalaureate pathways while working full time. DEED also reported a teacher turnover survey administered through the Institute for Social and Economic Research had a 16% response rate at the time of the briefing.
Why it matters: The apprenticeship pathway is a central part of Alaska's strategy to recruit and retain educators, particularly in rural districts that struggle to fill licensed positions. Senators asked for a breakdown of per-apprentice costs and for clarity on sponsor counts and program growth trends.
Next steps: DEED said it will provide a breakdown of SAFE grant expenditures and additional data on apprentices and projected growth.