As part of the Project Equal Access initiative, having workforce apprenticeships would allow us to build a wider and stronger pipeline into the teaching profession, as more nontraditional and diverse candidates would be able to pursue their teacher preparation program while earning an income.

Background and Rationale

Students enrolled in a State Approved Teacher Education Program (SATEP) must complete fieldwork and student teaching hours to become licensed teachers in Hawai‘i. Historically, most students cannot work while completing these requirements, often posing a barrier to program completion and adding hardship to students who must balance family, life, and school commitments. As a result, federal funds can now support workforce development, providing registered apprenticeship opportunities so students can earn an income while completing their classroom-based experience hours in schools that are registered as apprenticeship sites.

To launch this opportunity in Hawai‘i, a collaborative partnership between UH Mānoa and Maui County’s Department of Industrial Labor piloted an apprenticeship opportunity so that eligible students could earn an income during the Spring 2024 semester for their field hours completed as part of their licensure program.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident alien of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States
• Must be currently enrolled in a UHM COE Statewide SATEP program
• Must have completed HIDOE fingerprinting and background check
• Must be in final 1-2 years of graduating from the program
• Must be living in Maui County (i.e., Maui, Lanai, Molokai)
• Must be willing to work 20+ hours per week throughout the semester (including field requirement hours)
• Must intend to stay in Hawaii and teach upon graduation

Outcomes

Ten (10) current teacher candidates were identified as eligible for this pilot project across 4 different statewide COE teacher licensure programs (i.e., BEd in Early Childhood + Early Childhood Special Education, BEd in Elementary, BEd in Special Education, and MEdT in Dual Secondary + Special Education).

• 9 out of 10 eligible candidates opted in to participate in this pilot project
• 6 participants were completing their full-time student teaching requirements and 3 participants were in part-time observation practicum field requirements
• Candidates completed their apprenticeships across 6 Hawaii DOE Maui County school sites (5 in Maui and 1 in Lāna‘i)
• Candidates earned $22.25/hour or higher during the Spring 2024 semester

Upon success of this pilot initiative, the goal would be to support and partner with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board and Hawaii Department of Education to expand these apprenticeship opportunities statewide.