Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Commissioner Sarah Swanson announced a $4 million federal grant to establish Montana’s first registered teacher apprenticeship program, a major step toward strengthening the state’s education workforce and addressing critical teacher shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
“Preparing the next generation of Montana’s workforce and supporting starting teachers has been a top priority of our administration,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through this investment, we’re preparing future educators and getting more teachers in the classroom to better serve Montana students and families.”
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Labor’s State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) program and will support the development and implementation of a high-quality, earn-while-you-learn model for aspiring K-12 educators across Montana.
The new initiative will pay teacher apprentices for four years of hands-on classroom experience while they complete academic coursework through accredited colleges and universities. Under the guidance of mentor teachers, apprentices will gain the practical training necessary to become licensed K-12 educators in Montana upon program completion.
“Montana’s future depends on growing and retaining strong, local teachers who understand the communities they serve,” said DLI Commissioner Sarah Swanson. “This apprenticeship model lowers the barriers to entering the profession, brings workforce training into communities, and builds a homegrown pipeline of teachers who are more likely to stay and thrive in Montana’s classrooms.”
The first cohort, scheduled to begin in the summer and fall of 2026, will include 160 registered teacher apprentices and 40 youth pre-apprentices across a minimum of 40 school districts, including at least 12 in rural or tribal areas. A second cohort will launch in spring 2027.
The Department of Labor & Industry is partnering with the Coalition of Advocates for Montana’s Public Schools (CAMPS), the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) to complete the program’s design and implement a framework aligned with the needs of Montana’s diverse communities.
“As a former teacher and school administrator, I understand firsthand the critical need for more highly qualified educators in our classrooms,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen. “This new apprenticeship program will help build a stronger future by preparing the next generation of teachers to guide and inspire our students for years to come.”
Lance Melton, Executive Director of the Montana School Boards Association, praised the effort as a meaningful response to the state’s teacher shortage. “This initiative marks a crucial advancement in tackling the teacher recruitment and retention crisis in our rural schools,” Melton said. “By investing in registered apprenticeships, we are not merely training future educators; we are nurturing a skilled workforce that truly understands the values of the communities we serve.”
Montana’s Registered Apprenticeship system currently supports over 3,300 apprentices and 700 employers across diverse industries, including construction, health care, and finance. With the addition of education to that list, officials say the program is a bold new model for addressing long-term workforce challenges while keeping talent rooted in local communities.
By: BSH staff