Apprentices in the teacher assistant to teacher program with Senator Reed, and Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program partners, from left to right by school district, Central Falls, Pawtucket, and East Providence
Press Release
Senator Jack Reed, RI College, Union, and School District Leaders Celebrate K-12 Teacher Apprenticeship Expansion
After Helping Deliver $4 Million Federal Investment, U.S. Senator Jack Reed meets with Apprentices, Education & Labor Leaders on the Impact of Registered Apprenticeship Program that Creates a Durable, Community-centered Pathway to the Teaching Profession
Central Falls, R.I. (Sept. 3, 2026, 11 a.m. ET) – As students and teachers returned to their classrooms, U.S. Senator Jack Reed was joined by leaders of Rhode Island’s Registered Teaching Apprenticeship Program (RTAP), school district officials and apprentices today to celebrate the expansion of the K-12 paraprofessional-to-teacher workforce development pathway.
RTAP launched in 2024 to help fill gaps in Rhode Island’s teacher workforce, help paraprofessionals continue their academic journey while accelerating professional growth, and provide tuition support for new educators. Supported by a $3.7 million federal grant from the Department of Labor and a $360,000 federal earmark secured by Senator Reed, the program’s inaugural cohort included four paraprofessionals in Central Falls and East Providence and is now expanding to 14 apprentices in three districts, including Pawtucket. Additional school districts will be added as the program continues to grow.
RTAP is led by a state-level labor-management partnership that includes RI Institute of Labor Studies and Research (ILSR), Building Futures, Rhode Island College, RI AFL-CIO, the RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (RIFTHP), National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI), RI Council 94 AFSCME AFL-CIO, and district officials.
“We know that well-prepared, dedicated educators can make a world of difference in the lives of our kids. This program is all about the promise and potential that our students and these apprentices share, helping unlock success both inside and outside the classroom. As students and teachers get settled in for a new school year across the state, I am proud to support federal investments to grow this program and make sure there are affordable pathways into this essential profession,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who helped deliver over $4 million in federal funding for RTAP.
“Establishing a workforce development pipeline that invests in paraprofessionals to develop and certify as K-12 teachers exemplifies the power of registered apprenticeship,” said Andrew Cortés, president and CEO of Building Futures. “RTAP is an extraordinary partnership of Rhode Island’s education leaders that unlocks opportunity for Rhode Islanders and delivers for school districts and the students they serve,” Cortés continued.
RTAP combines structured on-the-job learning with thorough post-baccalaureate academic coursework. Rhode Island College (RIC) leads educator preparation for apprentices, tailoring the program to meet the partner school district’s staffing needs while building on the apprentice’s existing knowledge and skills.
“Some of our future teachers are already in Rhode Island classrooms, supporting students and making a difference every day,” said RI College President Jack Warner. “The Registered Teaching Apprenticeship Program gives these dedicated paraprofessionals a rigorous pathway to take the next step in their careers and pursue their dream of becoming certified educators. By bringing educator preparation and workforce development together, the program reflects the student-centered vision of our Strategic Compass and creates a win for our students, our schools, and our communities.”
A collaborative, innovative labor-management framework leads RTAP. The Institute for Labor Studies sponsors the apprenticeship program. It brings together unions representing teachers and paraprofessionals, in partnership with district officials, to lead a joint apprenticeship training committee that guides apprentices’ progress and growth.
“This is an investment in people, schools, and our future. Our Registered Teaching Apprenticeship gives paraprofessionals who have already committed themselves to their school communities an earn-while-you-learn pathway to become certified teachers, while helping districts grow the workforce they need. It’s a powerful example of what labor and management can accomplish when they work together,” said Michael Roles, executive director at ILSR.
“The Rhode Island Registered Apprenticeship program provides a vital, accessible pathway for experienced teacher assistants and paraprofessionals to transition into fully certified teaching roles,” said President Maribeth Calabro of RIFTHP. “This rigorous program directly addresses the educator shortage by transforming local talent into the highly qualified, culturally responsive teachers that Rhode Island students need to thrive. The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals and organized labor are incredibly proud to serve as leading partners in this initiative, championing workforce development that honors experience while strengthening public education,” Calabro continued.
“Registered teacher apprenticeships create a powerful cycle of investment: paraprofessionals gain a pathway to advancement, mentor teachers gain an opportunity to lead without leaving the classroom, and districts gain highly qualified educators who are already committed to their communities,” shared Alex Lucini, government relations director at NEARI. “It is a model that strengthens workers, schools, and students alike,” continued Lucini.
“RI Council 94 is excited to participate in this program for our members to advance professionally,” said John Burns, senior staff representative at RI Council 94 AFSCME, representing paraprofessionals at some district schools.
School districts select apprentices from their teaching assistant paraprofessional workforce and ensure in-district classroom teacher mentors support apprentices. Apprentices are enrolled at RIC, where they access tuition support and accessible, flexible programming that addresses longstanding logistical and cost barriers, enabling paraprofessionals to continue in the classroom while accelerating their professional growth.
“The Registered Teaching Apprenticeship Program embodies the mission of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development: to prepare highly effective, reflective educators who are deeply committed to the students and communities they serve,” said Dr. Carol Cummings, dean of RIC’s Feinstein School. “By removing barriers for paraprofessionals ready to become certified educators, RTAP builds a bridge from classroom experience to classroom leadership, honoring the relationships these aspiring teachers have already cultivated with students and families. In doing so, RTAP strengthens the pipeline of skilled, community-rooted teachers our schools need.”
“Our greatest asset in Central Falls is our people, and building a world-class talent ecosystem means creating sustainable career pathways for everyone,” said Dr. Stephanie Downey Toledo, superintendent of Central Falls Schools. “The Registered Teaching Apprenticeship Program is an intentional, innovative way to tap into the passion of staff who deeply understand our students and community, allowing them to earn a degree and competitive wage without taking leave. We are already seeing these apprentices prepare to lead their own classrooms, and I urge district leaders across Rhode Island to explore what RTAP can do for their schools.”
“The Teaching Apprenticeship program has been incredibly meaningful to me because it’s given me the opportunity to grow while actively doing the work I care about,” said Rosa Goncalves, paraprofessional at Central Falls Schools entering her second year of apprenticeship. “Being able to learn in a real classroom, alongside experienced educators, has helped me build confidence and develop practical skills that I know will stay with me throughout my career.”