Arkansas Special Education Teacher Registered
Apprenticeship Pathway
The
Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) – Educator
Effectiveness and Licensure – is now accepting applications for the second
cohort of the K-12 Special Education Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program.
This program offers an earn-while-you-learn pathway into the teaching
profession, with the goal of developing fully licensed special education
teachers who are deeply integrated into their school communities.
Key Components:
- Post-Bachelor’s,
non-degree program
- Three-year, competency-based
apprenticeship
- On-the-job learning aligned with
Arkansas Teacher Excellence and Support System (TESS) and Aspiring Teacher
Rubric
- Progressive wage scale starting
at $15/hr
- Semesterly evaluations and
observations
- Related Technical Instruction
(RTI) provided by the Arkansas Department of Education, which included
LETRS Professional Learning
- Grounded in Special Education
licensure standards and state initiatives
- Licensure requirements: Praxis
Assessments and Foundations in Reading Test
District Requirements and
Benefits:
Districts provide on-the-job learning (OJL) and
compensation for apprentices through a progressive wage. They also employ the
journeyworker (Lead or Master Teacher) who mentors apprentices and documents
their progress. DESE provides Lead Professional Educator Designation training
through the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) for interested
districts. Districts must ensure apprentices and journeyworkers meet program
standards.
The Special Education Teacher Registered Apprenticeship
offers districts a sustainable workforce model to address teacher shortages,
with the flexibility to recruit and retain high-quality paraprofessionals and
teachers. The program supports community-centered strategies and helps schools
expand staffing flexibility and caseloads.
Apprentice Requirements
and Benefits:
Apprentices must hold a Bachelor’s degree and be employed
by a K-12 school district or charter school. Preference is given to
paraprofessionals with three years of experience. This tuition free program leads to a standard K-12 Special Education Teaching License.
Apprentices gain on-the-job experience, receive mentoring from experienced
teachers and coaching from state professionals.
Journeyworker Requirements
and Benefits:
Journeyworkers must hold a standard content area teaching
license, have three years of classroom experience, hold a lead or master
designation on their license or be in a program leading to that designation and
meet evaluation criteria. Journeyworkers are compensated $2,500 per semester
for mentoring.
District Application
Process:
- Applications will be accepted through Friday, May 16, 2025.
- K-12 Special Education Teacher Occupation Application: Link
The Office of Educator
Effectiveness and Licensure is available for virtual one-on-one information
sessions and by phone or email to review requirements and answer questions.
Additional Information:
K-12 Special Education
Apprenticeship Informational Video: Link
Apprenticeship Standards: Appendix A, Work Process
Schedule and Related Instruction Outline