This post originally appeared at https://reforminggovernment.org/irg-response-to-dpi-report-massive-teacher-turnover-shows-failure-of-status-quo-urgent-need-for-teacher-apprenticeships/
Delafield, Wis. – A new report released on Monday from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) shows nearly one in five of Wisconsin public school teachers quit before their third year teaching. Such severe turnover causing Wisconsin’s teacher shortage crisis calls for innovative reform, not more of the same.
THE QUOTE:
“Schools are begging for great educators. Throwing money at the same old solutions continues to fail. State leaders must step up and innovate instead of overspending on already failing programs,” said CJ Szafir, IRG CEO. “46 other states have the solution. It’s time Wisconsin embraces teacher apprenticeships to increase classroom experience, lower student debt, and solve the teacher shortage.”
WHY IT MATTERS: Teacher apprenticeships have become popular among both parties in Wisconsin and nationally. Representative William Penterman introduced a forward-thinking bill that received unanimous support from Republican legislators in 2024, making it to Governor Tony Evers’ desk. Governor Evers vetoed that proposal, but began a teacher apprenticeship pilot later that year. Presently limited to a small number of schools, teacher apprenticeships would expand statewide in Gov. Evers’ 2025 budget proposal. A small bipartisan investment in the biennial budget would put high-quality, more-experienced teachers in the schools that need them most.
The Institute for Reforming Government led on researching how teacher apprenticeships could help Wisconsin in May 2023.
WHAT ARE TEACHER APPRENTICESHIPS?
- Prioritizing on the job experience in college: Future teachers still earn a bachelor’s degree in education over 4 years. However, students complete their education courses during freshman and sophomore year, then gain paid experience as a paraprofessional or substitute teacher during junior and senior year. Students complete general education courses outside of work hours.
- Getting schools what they need: Schools choose their apprentices and give them growing responsibility under a mentor teacher over the 4 semesters. Journeymen teachers receive a bonus for their mentorship. Apprentices fill existing roles, incurring no extra costs to schools. Teacher apprenticeships are open to all: district, charter, and private schools.
- Creating a fair trade – funding for innovation: Budget funding would go to significant college tuition support for teacher apprentices. In return, teachers graduate with much more in-classroom training overseen by active educators, transforming their college experience.
- Fixing teacher turnover: More real-life experience, less debt, grown from home: these battle-tested teachers are better prepared to manage classrooms and stay in the communities that hired them.