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 is a leading state in offering this kind of apprenticeship program, 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 initially began in the 2022-2023 school year and continues to operate across the state.
In October 2024, Governor Reynolds announced a new round of funding (TPRA 2.0), to help drive the development of even more education careers in school districts across the state. Details on the new funding opportunity are below.
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) will be awarding grant funding to support Iowa community school districts in developing new K-12 Teacher Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs, which will assist in developing the future labor force of teachers that the state needs.
Grant funding will support both the Teacher Aide I and/or K-12 Teacher RA programs.
The estimated total award amount will be based on the number of anticipated apprentices applied for in the application and the amount of available funding.
TPRA 2.0 funding will support two Registered Apprenticeship (RA) pathways to help spur new careers in education:
Teacher Aide RA Program:
Awarded school districts will be eligible to claim up to $8,200.00 per eligible apprentice each semester up to the maximum apprentice amount of $32,800.00, or for a maximum of four (4) semesters.
Teacher Educator RA Program:
Awarded school districts will be eligible to claim up to $9,500.00 per eligible apprentice each semester up to the maximum apprentice amount of $38,000.00, or for a maximum of four (4) semesters.
Awarded grant funds are intended to be used for:
Tuition, Books and Fees (Public rates of tuition and fees at a two-year, accredited community college and/or a four-year, accredited college or university).
Wages for district employees who are Registered Apprentices within the District’s Teacher Aide I and K-12 Teacher Educator Registered Apprenticeship program.
All grant funds are administered as reimbursement only, and no advance payment options are available.
Priority will be given to applicants that:
Are Iowa school districts that demonstrate a high need for additional certified teachers within their district by providing information of current and/or near future open positions within their district.
Provide documentation demonstrating a high percentage of free and reduced lunch participation within their district.
A webinar to discuss the grant opportunity will take place on November 6, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.
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).
