Office hours:

Monday through Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Send all mail to:

KSDE
Attention: Teacher Licensure
900 S.W. Jackson Street, Suite 102
Topeka, KS 66612-1212

• Application (PDF)
  • Application due by June 1, 2024
• Application Guidance (PDF)

DO NOT EMAIL KSDE THE APPLICATION

Email apprentice@ksde.org to receive instructions on submitting the application. 

• Registered Teacher Apprentice Standards (PDF)
• Standards Guidance (PDF)
• Manual (PDF)
• Guidance for Apprentice (PDF)
• Guidance for District- Is an Apprenticeship/Apprentice right for your district (PDF)
• Sample Apprentice Teacher Job Description (Word doc)
• Guidance for District-Now that you have hired an Apprentice (PDF)
• Apprentice Role Matrix
• Sample evaluation/observation tool and guide (PDF)
• District Assurance Statement (PDF)
• List of colleges/universities 

Overview of a Registered Apprenticeship

• The Registered Teacher Apprenticeship is a four-year competency-based apprenticeship.  If a newly hired apprentice has no classroom experience and no college credit, it will probably take them four years to complete the program.  If the apprentice has prior experience and college credit the apprenticeship could take less time.  Here is a matrix of the apprentice’s potential role in the district based on their classroom and college experience Apprentice Role Matrix.
• Districts build an on-the-job training plan for their apprentices based on their teacher training rubric, so that each apprentice can learn, practice, and become proficient with all competencies required to be a teacher.  Districts will evaluate and observe the apprentice at least once a semester [link to sample evaluation/observation tool] [link to assurance statement] to ensure the apprentice is making progress in their on-the-job learning and bachelor's degree.
• Districts must have a progressive wage scale that meets a minimum starting pay of $14 an hour. (Districts are always free to increase that minimum based on their own wage scale.)
• Apprentices must be assigned a mentor teacher to help guide them through their apprenticeship. The mentor teacher should hold a professional license. The mentor teacher will receive $1,500 a year (through Summer 2026) for for serving in this role.
• Apprentices will receive $7,500 for tuition yearly (through Summer 2026), with $2,500 earmarked specifically for summer tuition.  Any money not used for tuition can be used to pay for books and supplies. The tuition money will be granted to the district and the district will coordinate with the university/community college to distribute the tuition money.

STUDENT OPTION:

Interested in pursuing a teaching career in Kansas but the traditional college path just isn’t in the cards right now?

Contact your local school district to find out if the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program is the right fit for you.

DISTRICT OPTION:

Kansas Districts interested in enhancing or implementing a grow-your-own teacher recruitment program are encouraged to participate in the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program.

This four-year, competency-based apprenticeship program combines the rigor and training of a registered apprenticeship with specialized education for individuals aspiring to become teachers.

Developed with paraprofessionals, graduating high school seniors and non-degreed staff in mind, this program provides Kansas districts a grow-your-own solution to address teacher vacancy issues. District-selected apprentices are compensated for on-the-job learning while earning a bachelor’s degree in education. Upon graduation and successful completion of the program, apprentices receive a license to teach in Kansas and are placed in one of the district’s classrooms.

Through the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship, districts can actively invest in the development of their workforce while nurturing talent from within the community. This program provides a structured framework for apprentices to undergo rigorous training, mentoring, and assessment, ensuring they acquire the necessary skills and competencies to excel as educators. This program encourages districts to cultivate a diverse cohort of educators who bring unique perspectives and experiences to the classroom, enriching the learning environment for students and faculty alike.

Contact information:

apprentice@ksde.org
(785) 296-1862