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As part of its 2026 legislative priorities, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) is calling on the General Assembly to support statewide expansion of apprenticeship programs that are building the state’s teacher pipeline. Over the past year, the state department has worked with districts statewide to formalize a pathway that allows paraprofessionals to earn teacher certification while continuing to work in their classrooms.

Educational leaders have found that for school districts across Georgia, paraprofessionals represent one of the strongest pipelines into the teaching profession. The Georgia Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program provides a paid, classroom-based route to teacher certification. It combines on-the-job learning, college coursework, mentorship, and coordinated district and state support, helping school systems develop and retain educators who are already rooted in their communities.

“Georgia’s teacher pipeline must reflect the needs of our local communities,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “Our apprenticeship pathway creates a practical, accessible route into the profession for parapros who are already serving students and want to take the next step. It strengthens our workforce while keeping educators connected to their local schools and communities.”

Since its launch on November 4, 2024, the program has expanded statewide, Woods said. With support from a $3.9 million Apprenticeship Building America grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, GaDOE has supported 29 school districts in implementing registered teacher apprenticeship programs. The program now serves 132 teaching apprentices working toward certification.

In December 2025, the program graduated its first participants, representing Crisp County and Ben Hill County Schools.

One apprentice, Jerardy Castro, a K-12 Teaching Apprentice attending Georgia Southwestern State University, the program provided an opportunity to return to and serve his home community in Crisp County

“I actually grew up here and went through the Crisp County School System, graduated from here,” Castro said. “I am happy and excited to be back here, giving back to my community.”

Crisp County’s teaching apprenticeship program is funded through the GaDOE Rural Teaching Apprenticeship Grant and additional state apprenticeship funds.

In addition to registered apprenticeships, GaDOE is expanding its grow-your-own strategy through pre-apprenticeship pathways where 23 rural districts are developing paraprofessional-to-teacher pipelines that begin with high school pre-apprenticeships and transition into full registered apprenticeships, supporting long-term educator recruitment in hard-to-staff communities. The state department supports districts by streamlining apprenticeship registration, facilitating partnerships between school systems and in-state educator preparation providers, and assisting districts in accessing federal and state funding