“The Foundation for Florida’s Future applauds the State Board’s adoption of these new rules, which will further expand pathways into the classroom at a time when many schools face teacher shortages in important subjects.
“Teacher apprentice programs are growing in number across the country. We are happy that Florida is leading the way, not only in establishing this program, but putting money behind it, as well.
“As our attention turns to the 2024 legislative session, the Foundation looks forward to working with Gov. DeSantis, Commissioner Diaz and the legislature to further expand this program to capture more apprentices and apprentice mentors to ensure Florida’s teacher workforce is the strongest and most accessible in the country.”
The Teacher Apprenticeship Program is a new pathway for individuals to enter the teaching profession and will continue to increase the pipeline of high-quality teachers in Florida classrooms.
In 2023, Gov. DeSantis and Florida policymakers invested $9 million to increase the supply of qualified teachers. Apprentices begin as paraprofessionals and are paired with an experienced teacher mentor; apprentices receive on-the-job training and related instruction leading toward a baccalaureate degree and a professional educator certificate.
The Foundation for Florida’s Future would like to see eligibility for the program expanded to include all high school graduates.
