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Teacher Residency and Apprenticeship Programs

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Educator candidates seeking intensive preparation experiences may wish to explore a residency or apprenticeship program, both of which are characterized by significant experience in the classroom, strong mentorship, and coursework.

Registered Apprenticeship Programs

The Grow Your Own (GYO) or Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAP) are designed as partnerships between local school divisions and higher education teacher preparation programs. Unlike traditional college teacher preparation programs, these programs allow aspiring educators to get the best of both worlds with extended apprenticeships and high-quality coursework. In the past, an aspiring educator would have to complete almost all of their coursework prior to a 12-week clinical experience. The apprenticeship model blends these two elements together, providing aspiring educators practical extensions of coursework throughout their apprenticeship resulting in higher retention of theory and extensive opportunities to practice what they are learning, More importantly, the apprentices become part of the school community and are more likely to stay in teaching than traditionally prepared teachers. 

Now registered with the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (Virginia Works), the state’s Apprenticeship Program and participants become eligible for further sustainable funding through workforce grant programs.  The initial investment in quality of programming will pay off for years, and ultimately ensure a permanent, sustainable source of effective teachers for students.  

The state-sponsored apprenticeship program includes the following components: (a) non-teacher of record contractual employment, (b) school-based mentors, (c) employment opportunity for apprentices upon graduation from an accredited institution of higher education, and (d) integration of education and career pathway.  Additionally, the program will provide a variety of support services to ensure success in their coursework and employment.  

Read more on the federally approved Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). 

GYO Overview flyerGrow Your Own

The Grow Your Own (GYO) or apprenticeship programs are designed as partnerships between local school divisions and higher education teacher preparation programs. Unlike traditional college teacher preparation programs, these programs allow aspiring educators to get the best of both worlds with extended apprenticeships and high-quality coursework.

Read Virginia's Grow Your Own Initiative one pager for an overview of the program, to find out how aspiring teachers can participate, and learn about current participants.

Funding Opportunities

The Department of Teacher Education and Licensure is soliciting proposals for the Grow Your Own (GYO) – Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program. This solicitation for proposals is to support eligible school divisions or a regional consortia of school divisions to implement a registered teacher apprenticeship program starting in the 2024-2025 school year.  

Teacher talking to students at their desks.

Highlighted in the September 21st edition of the VA Education Update, the purpose of the Grow Your Own initiative is to prepare individuals from the community to enter and succeed in the state’s registered teacher apprenticeship program and ultimately be employed as an educator in their local school division. This program also aims to eliminate economic barriers that may keep individuals from investing in skills training and teacher preparation, allowing them to “earn while they learn”. 

Grant applications for the newly released SAEF subgrant are due November 1, 2024.  

Presentations

 

Residency Programs

Teacher residency programs are intensive experiences designed to those enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program (EPP).   Residents complete a year-long clinical practice placement in a partner school division while completing the undergraduate or graduate-level coursework needed to become licensed teachers.  The format for residency programs vary:  Some provide short-term training while others pair a program participant with a mentor teacher for a year long co-teaching experience.  Because of the need for integration between clinical experiences and coursework, residency programs are conceived of as holistic; required coursework and clinical experiences together comprise the duration of a residency.   Programs in Virginia require that participants commit to teaching in a specific division for a certain number of years after completing the residency.  Additionally, residency programs may offer tuition remission and/or an additional stipend.  Teacher Residency Programs associated with approved Virginia Educator Preparation Programs include: