FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2024
IRG ACTION PRAISES “TEACHER APPRENTICESHIPS” BILL AS BIPARTISAN SOLUTION TO TEACHER SHORTAGE
DELAFIELD, WI – IRG Action applauds Rep. Will Penterman for introducing LRB 4274, which would lay the groundwork for teacher apprenticeships in Wisconsin. 28 states, red and blue, are using them to solve the teacher shortage crisis.
LRB 4274 would allow future teachers to take up to 4 semesters of student teaching instead of 1, should their university opt in. Students who register as apprentices for those 2 years could then earn as they learn, gain real-world experience under a mentor’s watch, fill vacant paraprofessional positions, and lower college debt through federal apprenticeship funding. Students could still receive their bachelor’s degree in 4 years, as general education credits would be awarded for each completed semester of student teaching. Minimizing student debt, increasing classroom readiness, and removing gen ed course barriers would open the profession to many promising students.
“If we want Wisconsin’s kids to be at their best, we must do our best for Wisconsin’s teachers. Rep. Penterman’s bill can unlock a path to teaching that is more affordable and more accessible while raising the bar for quality. Teachers with more hands-on experience, greater connection to their communities, and less debt will stay in the profession, a stark contrast to the 18% early-career turnover rate Wisconsin faces today. This is a potential win-win for schools and families.” – Quinton Klabon, IRG Senior Research Director
This bipartisan solution for children and educators is very possible. Superintendent Underly has begun work on a “really exciting” teacher apprenticeship concept with the Department of Workforce Development. Nationally, Superintendent Tennessee’s Republican governor started them with President Biden’s administration. The National Education Association union, right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, Act 20-assisting ExcelInEd, National Rural Education Association, and state labor departments all see their benefits. The Institute for Reforming Government, a 501(c)(3) think tank based in Delafield, led on this issue in 2023 and has had favorable discussions with school districts, choice schools, and universities.
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IRG Action Fund is the 501(c)(4) advocacy partner to the Institute for Reforming Government.