Maryland Launches State-Sponsored Registered Apprenticeship Program for Teaching

Strategic Insights -

Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of Maryland's first state-sponsored registered apprenticeship program for teaching, aimed at addressing the teacher shortage and providing more hands-on training, mentorship, and paid work experience for aspiring educators. The program will enable apprentices to earn their college degree and teaching license while working in the classroom, reducing the out-of-pocket cost of earning a degree and license. "If someone is raising their hand to teach our children, they should be rewarded with opportunity, not burdened by debt," said Gov. Moore.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program is a state-sponsored program that will provide aspiring teachers with hands-on training, mentorship, and paid work experience while earning a degree and license.
  • The program is a result of a partnership between the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland State Education Association, and Maryland Department of Labor, and was first implemented by St. Mary's County Public Schools in 2024.
  • The program's first cohort is expected to begin enrollment in Caroline and Washington counties in early 2026, and will be open to participants across the state when fully scaled.
  • The program will provide training options for future educators at a wide range of experience levels, from high school students considering a career in teaching to mid-career professionals preparing for a career pivot.
  • The program aims to address the teacher shortage in Maryland, which has filled more than 500 teacher vacancies since the Moore-Miller Administration took office.
  • The program is part of a broader effort to address the teacher shortage, which includes the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, signed by the governor this year, which takes additional steps to address the shortage by developing fully licensed teachers through recruitment campaigns and supporting debt-free pathways to teacher licensure.

Statistics:

  • Over 500 teacher vacancies have been filled since the Moore-Miller Administration took office.
  • Half of Maryland's teachers come from other states, highlighting the need for a statewide registered apprenticeship program for teaching.
  • The program will provide training options for future educators at a wide range of experience levels, from high school students to mid-career professionals.
  • The program's first cohort is expected to begin enrollment in Caroline and Washington counties in early 2026.

Sources:

  • [1] Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (2023)
  • [2] Maryland State Education Association (2023)
  • [3] St. Mary's County Public Schools (2024)
  • [4] Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act (2023)
  • [5] Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland State Education Association, and Maryland State Department of Education (2023)