Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Program (TPRA)
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Related Topics:
Apprenticeship
Grants and Scholarships
The Teacher & Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Program (TPRA) is a unique grant opportunity that provides additional ways for current high school students and adult paraeducators to earn credentials while learning and working in the classroom. Iowa was a leading state in offering this kind of apprenticeship program in education, which is creating new pathways to successful careers in the education workforce.
As part of TPRA, current high school students are able to earn a paraeducator certificate and associates degree, while paraeducators will be able earn their bachelor's degree. The program began in the 2022-2023 school year and continues to operate across the state.
TPRA Grant Awards
In 2022, Governor Reynolds announced awardees for the Teacher & Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Program grant. Nineteen partnered districts were awarded a total of $45.6 million to help create an estimated 1,000 new paraeducators and teachers across the state (many awarded districts have multiple partnered districts listed).
The following information covers the details on Iowa's unique RA grant program that is creating new paraeducators and teachers across the state. Click on the plus sign below to expand each section.
The Iowa Department of Education (DOE) and Iowa Workforce Development Agency (IWD) are utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to create the model program which will train and educate current high school students and paraeducators for the next step in their teaching careers while they learn, work, and get paid in Iowa schools.
Covered Costs
Paraeducator program tuition and full salary for students working as an aide and 50% of salary when working for the district as a classroom aide after graduation and completing coursework (Maximum $40,500 per participant).
Teacher preparation program tuition and 50% of salary while working for the district as a paraeducator and completing coursework (Maximum $47,000 per participant). In order to be eligible for grant funds in the teacher track, a candidate must be a certified paraeducator or have an Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree.
Adding of New District
If an awarded sponsor district that is part of a larger consortium chooses to request an additional partner district(s) to join their established consortium after the initial award, the additional district(s) and/or apprentice(s) will have no effect on the total awarded amount.
The additional district(s) wishing to join an established consortium must submit a letter of request to the sponsor district formally requesting to become a Partner district under the consortium. If the sponsor district chooses to add the district(s) to the consortium, the sponsor district must submit a formal letter of support to Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) requesting to add the additional district(s) as a formal partner district under the awarded consortium.
The requested partner district(s) must have an MOU agreement with a higher education partner (RTI) included with their request that is an established RTI provider within the consortium. No new RTI providers will be eligible to be added to the consortium based on the additional district(s). The MOU agreement must contain the same requirements as stated in the contract agreement between IWD and the sponsor district.
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) and the Iowa Department of Education (IDE) hosted a series of webinars and provided critical resources to help awardees with next steps.
