The New Jersey Department of Education has been awarded $800,000 to launch the New Jersey Teacher Apprenticeship Program, an initiative to support the pipeline of classroom aides and paraprofessionals who want to become certificated teachers.
Through the program, Ramapo College and Rutgers University in New Brunswick each will receive $400,000 in grant funding to collectively partner with eight school districts, jointure commissions, and special services school districts.
Staff from the New Jersey Departments of Education and Labor & Workforce Development will regularly work with Ramapo and Rutgers to visit the school districts to provide oversight and needed support for the apprenticeship programs.
“In New Jersey, we have committed to bolstering our teacher workforce and ensuring our classrooms are staffed by the very best professionals because our students deserve nothing less,” Gov. Phil Murphy, said. “The Teacher Apprenticeship Program will be a game changer, helping to break down barriers to entry for paraprofessionals and classroom aides who want to become certified teachers and have already proven their passion for teaching the next generation.”
Supported by funding appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget, the grants will fund programs designed to streamline a pathway for full-time educational support professionals – i.e., paraprofessionals and instructional aides working in the classroom – to earn their teaching certificate. Funding will be used to offset the costs associated with tuition, books and materials, mentorships, and structured on-the-job training.
“It’s vital that we support the paraprofessionals and classroom aides in our educational system. Many of these professionals have worked tirelessly in classrooms for years and aspire to earn their teacher certification – but they face obstacles such as the cost of tuition and availability of programming,” Kevin Dehmer, acting commissioner of Education. “This apprenticeship program will help clear the hurdles they face so they can achieve their goal of becoming a licensed New Jersey teacher, while also helping to meet the need for teachers in our school districts.”
“The Teacher Apprenticeship Program will provide critical support to paraprofessionals as they become certified teachers by covering the costs of their tuition, learning materials, and integrated on-the-job training,” Robert Asaro-Angelo, commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, said. “This apprenticeship program carves out a career pathway for the next generation of professional educators who will lead New Jersey classrooms and deliver quality education to our students.”
