Nebraska awards $1 million in grants for teacher apprenticeship expansion

The Nebraska Department of Education has awarded about $1 million in funding to Chadron State College and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as part of the third round of the state’s “Grow Your Own” Teacher Apprenticeship Competitive Sub-Grant Opportunity.

The funding comes from both the U.S. Department of Labor’s State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grant and an annual $1 million investment from the state legislature. The initiative aims to expand registered teacher apprenticeship programs, offering new routes for aspiring educators to join the profession while earning a salary and gaining classroom experience. The program is intended to help schools address teacher shortages by developing local talent.

“This award strengthens Chadron State College’s mission to support schools, invest in the people who call them home, and ensure the next generation of teachers comes from the heart of our communities,” said Adam Fette, College Professor at Chadron State College.

The “Grow Your Own” Teacher Apprenticeship program encourages collaboration between educator preparation programs and school districts to train and retain future teachers locally. Chadron State College and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln plan to use these funds to form eight new partnerships with school districts, expand current collaborations, and reduce financial barriers for those pursuing teaching credentials.

“UNL is very excited to welcome the second cohort of apprentices who represent districts in ESU 5 and 6 as well as continuing our partnership with Lincoln Public Schools,” said Dr. Suzanne Kemp. “We were thrilled with how successful our first cohort was and they’ve all been hired for this school year.”

Since its pilot launch, Nebraska’s Teacher Registered Apprenticeship initiative has expanded through three rounds of funding. It now includes eight educator preparation programs working with 50 schools—43 public school districts and seven non-public schools—with more than 200 apprentices expected to become future educators in Nebraska.

By focusing on training educators within their own communities, schools aim to ensure that students have access to teachers who understand local culture and needs. This approach is seen as a way to strengthen schools, support economic growth, and create a lasting pipeline of qualified teachers for Nebraska classrooms.