All classified or support staff may apply for the Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway. Selected participants must be employed as paraprofessionals in an accredited South Dakota school until beginning student teaching.

Additional considerations include:

• Participants must have support from their school district.
• Applicants must meet applicable university admission and program requirements.
• A paraprofessional is considered a full-time school employee with a minimum of 950 hours.
• For Cohort 5, preference will be given to applicants who have already earned postsecondary credits due to the program’s funding timeline.

FAFSA Requirement:

Selected participants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Program eligibility is not based on the FAFSA award, but eligible grants may be applied toward educational costs.

Participants are responsible for:

• Up to $1,000 annually toward tuition.
• Required course materials, including textbooks.
• State-required assessments, such as the Praxis.

Important:

Participants may be responsible for additional educational expenses if they need more time than the funded program period allows or if program funding becomes unavailable.

School districts play an important role in supporting apprentices throughout the program.

Participating districts are responsible for:

• Completing a Statement of Assurance and recommendation form.
• Providing a certified teacher to serve as a local mentor.
• Contributing $1,000 annually to support the local primary mentor.
• Continuing the apprentice’s employment and compensation according to program requirements, including during student teaching.
• Providing a laptop or similar technology, if needed.

Districts are not required to hire apprentices as certified teachers following program completion.