FY2027: Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program: Planning Support Grant

Funder: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is launching the FY2027 Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program to support Local Educational Agencies in developing diverse pathways to teacher licensure. This initiative emphasizes equitable access for underrepresented communities through paid training and mentorship. The program aims to strengthen workforce stability while addressing critical staffing needs in special education, ESL, and STEM. Districts will receive planning grants to enhance educator preparation and community engagement, ensuring a high-quality and inclusive education system.

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education oversees public education for pre-K through grade 12 across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with a mission to strengthen the public education system so that all students are prepared for postsecondary success, meaningful employment, and responsible citizenship, while working to close proficiency gaps statewide. Its vision centers on equitable, high-quality, student-centered learning that supports academic achievement, culturally responsive practice, and inclusive opportunity for every learner. The Department’s funding priorities and programs emphasize equitable student access and outcomes, diversity and culturally responsive teaching, strong teacher effectiveness and professional development, family and community engagement, and strategic support—such as quality improvement grants, safe and supportive school initiatives, and data-driven accountability tools—that advance excellence and equity in Massachusetts public education.
FY2027: Partnership for Reading Success — Massachusetts (PRISM) II
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is offering a competitive planning grant to support Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in launching Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAPs). RTAPs are innovative, job-embedded pathways to Initial teacher licensure designed to build a diverse and effective educator workforce that reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of Massachusetts students. The program prioritizes equitable access by providing aspiring educators—particularly those from underrepresented communities—with a low- or no-cost route into teaching through paid, on-the-job training combined with academic coursework.
RTAP focuses on three core priorities: cultivating a diverse and community-based teacher pipeline; strengthening preparation in hard-to-staff roles such as special education, early childhood, ESL, and STEM; and expanding cost-effective access to the profession through full-time employment with mentorship and wraparound supports. Apprentices “earn while they learn,” receiving structured supervision from experienced mentor teachers (“journeyworkers”) and program supervisors, along with training in culturally and linguistically sustaining practices (CLSP).
The planning grant supports districts in conducting workforce needs assessments, developing strategic program designs, forming educator preparation provider (EPP) partnerships, integrating state model evaluation rubrics, designing high-quality clinical experiences, creating equitable recruitment and selection processes, drafting MOUs, aligning with union and staffing structures, completing RTAP application requirements, and establishing sustainability and evaluation plans. The goal is to position districts for successful RTAP implementation that strengthens educator diversity, preparation quality, and long-term workforce stability.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include Massachusetts public school districts, charter schools, approved special education schools, and educational collaboratives.Multiple Local Educational Agencies LEAs may apply together as a coalition.