Las Vegas, NV September 18, 2023
The Office of the Labor Commissioner’s State
Apprenticeship Council has registered Nevada’s first teacher training
apprenticeship program. The Nevada Forward Initiative, a program housed within
the University of Nevada Las Vegas College of Education provides career
readiness and workforce training for future education professionals.
"The Nevada Forward Initiative
provides a comprehensive and inclusive approach to addressing critical
shortages in our state's education workforce," said UNLV President Keith
E. Whitfield. "This teacher apprenticeship program -- which will be the
first of its kind in the western U.S. -- is an important step forward for
Nevada and positions both our state and university as national leaders in
education workforce innovation."
Since the
program’s inception, more than 460 paraprofessionals, long-term substitutes,
and other school support staff are either licensed teachers or are on track to
become licensed teachers while maintaining their employment and earning
bachelor’s or master’s degrees. There are currently 225 graduates working in southern
Nevada classrooms and 235 students in the program’s current co-hort.
Nearly 70%
of program students are from historically marginalized groups, developing a
pipeline of qualified teachers that help meet the ongoing needs of our state’s
diverse student populations. Currently, the largest employer of graduating
students from the program is the Clark County School District.
The program
is structured to meet the needs of those who are already working in schools by
offering combinations of in-person and online courses scheduled in
four-to-eight-week intervals. In addition, Nevada Forward students receive
extensive coaching, mentoring and professional development support before,
during, and for three years after their academic journey. These supports have proven crucial to the
program’s success thus far, with a 92% graduation rate.
Registering as a state apprenticeship
program now allows UNLV to apply for competitive grant funding opportunities that
were not otherwise available.
According to State Apprenticeship Director
Toni Giddens, the goal is to continue to add teacher apprenticeship programs throughout
the state and help grow this alternative pathway for individuals looking to
take the next step of their careers into the classroom. “Workforce development through
alternative pathways to professional licensure is critical to help fill the
employment gaps in our educational institutions. School support staff, already
part of a school community, have a roadmap toward teacher licensure that will
allow them to continue supporting the education and growth of the students they
interact with every day.”
About
the Office of the Labor Commissioner
The Office of the Labor Commissioner, a division of the
Department of Business and Industry, strives to ensure that all workers are
treated fairly under the law by investigating complaints of non-payment of
wages, state minimum wage, overtime, and prevailing wage disputes. The office
also monitors youth employment standards, including work hours and safe,
non-hazardous working conditions. For more information, visit https://labor.nv.gov.
About the Nevada State Apprenticeship
Council
The State Apprenticeship Council was established to
administer apprenticeship laws and regulations in the State of Nevada. Often
referred to as the “original four-year degree,” apprenticeship is a system of
supervised on-the-job training with classroom-related instruction leading to
certification in a trade, occupation, or craft. For more information, visit https://labor.nv.gov/Apprenticesip_Council/AboutSAC.
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