Bill > HB51

This bill amends Delaware's Educator Apprenticeship Program to expand its scope and create new pathways for aspiring educators. The legislation introduces three distinct apprenticeship programs: teacher apprenticeships, paraprofessional registered occupation programs, and registered youth apprenticeship programs. The bill defines a paraprofessional as a public school employee like a paraeducator or teacher aide and establishes that these new programs will help address educator shortages by providing alternative routes to certification. For teacher apprenticeships, school districts and charter schools must place participants in positions alongside mentors while they complete training. The paraprofessional program is designed to help participants obtain an associate's degree and potentially transition to teacher residency programs, while the youth apprenticeship will allow high school students to accumulate certification hours and earn college credits. The bill mandates a pilot paraprofessional registered occupation program for the 2025-2026 academic year, to be implemented in collaboration with at least one higher education institution and one school district or charter school. The Department of Education will work with the Department of Labor to ensure these programs meet labor standards and will seek funding through State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula Grants and other available state or federal sources to support the initiative's implementation and expansion.

Education

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141878