The Dallas College School of Education announced that its spring semester kicked off with an additional $1 million in federal funding for its innovative teacher residency apprenticeship program.

The program was announced in March 2022 after Dallas College received U.S. Department of Labor approval for Texas’ first registered teaching apprenticeship.

“Every student in our city deserves access to a highly effective educator every year. This funding really gives us the ability to scale our work and produce even more high-quality educators to meet the workforce needs of our early childhood and school district partners across North Texas,” Dr. Rob DeHaas, vice provost of the Dallas College School of Education, said in a statement. “The collective commitment of our North Texas congressional leadership to support our future teacher educators is not only an investment in our teacher workforce but an investment in the future health and prosperity of our city and of our region.”

Designed to help solve teacher shortages

Dallas College said the program is designed to help solve teacher shortages by building a steady pipeline of well-trained teachers. Open to students enrolled in Dallas College’s bachelor’s degree in education program, it allows educators of tomorrow to begin earning while still training.

Funding comes from U.S. Departments of Labor, Education

The Dallas College teaching apprenticeship program will receive $500,000 in Department of Labor funding from H.R. 2617, part of more than $30 million in funding that U.S. District 33 Rep. Mark Veasey obtained for 15 North Texas projects.

“I’m proud to have secured funding for Dallas College’s Teacher Residency Apprenticeship Program in the government funding package that was recently signed into law,” Veasey said in a statement. “As a former substitute teacher, I recognize the impact educators have on our children and our future. We must continue to support them and invest in programs that create a steady pipeline of well-trained educators.”

The additional $500,000 grant from the Department of Education was secured through District 32 U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and retired District 30 Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. The 5400K was part of $26.6 million in funding Allred obtained for an additional 15 North Texas projects.

“My mom was a Dallas public teacher, so I know how important teachers are to our community and educating our young people so they have the tools they need to succeed,” Allred said in a statement. “Our community colleges have never been more critical, especially as North Texas continues to grow. That’s why I was so proud to secure funding for Dallas College for this apprenticeship program as they help train the next generation of teachers.”

Both grants were signed into law by President Biden, as part of the Community Funding Project package passed by Congress as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act in 2022.

Gaining ‘critical training in the classroom’

“Dallas College is grateful to our elected leaders who are champions of the education we offer our students, particularly those who someday want to be teachers themselves,” Dallas College Chancellor Justin Lonon said in a statement. “Through the innovative programming offered by our School of Education, made possible in part through this key congressional funding, our student-teachers gain critical training in the classroom while getting paid for it.”

Dallas College said that the Richardson Independent School District and the charter school Uplift Education are early partners in the residency apprenticeship program.

Typically under the apprenticeship, students earn $30,000 to serve as residents in classrooms three days per week and tutor or serve as a substitute one day per week.

The students participate in weekly cohort meetings and receive deep coaching from Dallas College faculty.

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