Arizona receives $300K grant to address teacher shortage through apprenticeships, mentoring

The Arizona Department of Education recently received a $300,000 grant to address the state’s teacher shortage crisis.

The funding will be spread over the next two years and be used to expand the department’s existing teacher apprenticeship and mentoring programs.

The grant will support 100 apprentices, the department said.

“This is excellent news because recruiting, training and supporting teachers is vital and the teacher shortage has reached catastrophic proportions,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said in a press release Tuesday. “These funds will be used to expand our already-robust efforts to help bring more teachers into the profession and retain those valuable educators currently in the classroom.”

Who is providing funds to help Arizona address teacher shortage?

The funding comes from the National Center for Grow Your Own through a grant from Ascendium Education Group. Vermont and Wisconsin also received awards.

The National Center for Grow Your Own will provide support to the recipients with the goal of increasing the number of licensed teachers through debt-free apprenticeship programs.

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