State receives $4.5 million to expand teacher apprenticeship program

The Nebraska Department of Education received a $4.5 million grant to expand its teacher apprenticeship program.

There are three pairs of universities and school districts that piloted the program to aid the state’s teacher shortage. Paraprofessionals already working in schools are able to get their teaching certificate through the program.

The three starter programs include:

• Midland University and Omaha Westside’s “Growing Our Own Educator Assistant (EA) to Teacher Ladder Program”
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Lincoln Public Schools’ “Building the Special Education Teacher Pipeline”
• Chadron State College and North Platte Public Schools’ “Panhandle Para to Teacher Academy.”

The additional funding will go toward expanding the program across Nebraska. David Jespersen, the state department’s spokesperson, said the department will work to identify teachers, schools and universities that could work for new partnerships.