$1 million investment will support Registered Apprenticeship pathways for special education teachers in Michigan

New initiative will help paraprofessionals and other school-based employees become fully certified special education teachers

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), in partnership with the Michigan Departments of Education (MDE) and Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), Alma College and the AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute, are excited to announce the launch of the Michigan Apprenticeship Pathways for Special Education (MAPS) initiative, offering Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for paraprofessionals, instructional assistants, substitute teachers and other school-based employees interested in becoming fully certified special education teachers.

Backed by a five-year United States Department of Education award totaling $1,007,235, MAPS leverages Michigan’s existing workforce and apprenticeship systems to create a coordinated statewide approach that connects workforce development, higher education, teacher preparation, certification and local school districts.

“This investment helps address Michigan’s long-standing shortage of certified special education teachers by expanding Registered Apprenticeship as a statewide earn-and-learn pathway into the profession,” said Susan Corbin, Director of LEO. “Registered Apprenticeships provide opportunities to learn important skills that lead to good-paying jobs and bright futures right here in Michigan.”

Through MAPS, Registered Apprentices will have a structured pathway to complete their apprenticeships, earn bachelor's degrees, obtain Michigan teacher certification with a special education endorsement, and transition into certified teaching roles.

“We look forward to collaborating with our valued partners in an initiative that addresses two important priorities of MDE — improving special education services and supports for students with disabilities and increasing the number of teachers in areas of critical shortage,” said State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. “I know there are many dedicated school staff members from across the state who are looking for opportunities to become certified special education teachers.”

"Michigan already has people working in our schools who know these students, understand their communities, and are doing important work every day," said Dr. Katie Giardello, Transfer Success Project Manager with MiLEAP's Office of Higher Education. "The opportunity with MAPS is to build a pathway that helps them move into certified special education roles without having to step away from the workforce to do it. By bringing school districts, higher education institutions, workforce partners and teacher preparation faculty together, we can strengthen a statewide pathway that is practical for the people entering it and sustainable for the institutions supporting it."

Under the MAPS model, Registered Apprentices will remain employed with their local school districts while completing a bachelor’s degree, 576 hours of related instruction, and 8,000 hours of supervised, paid on-the-job learning. Registered Apprentices will work under certified special education teachers and complete all requirements for full Michigan teacher certification with a special education endorsement.

“By working with local school districts and removing out-of-pocket costs for participants, MAPS ensures graduates are ready to hit the ground running,” said Krista Johnson, Director of LEO Workforce Development. “These individuals already have experience in the classroom. By joining a Registered Apprenticeship Program, they now have the opportunity to earn the credentials that will help them earn a higher wage.”

MAPS builds on Alma College’s existing MDE-approved Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher program, using it as a foundation to develop a standardized statewide apprenticeship framework. Alma College will serve as a Registered Apprenticeship group sponsor, managing registration, compliance, competency tracking, data reporting and other requirements – significantly reducing administrative responsibilities for school districts.

“The Alma College Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher Preparation Program, known as Para to Pro, serves as the training program for the K-12 Special Education Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program between Alma College and Alma Public Schools and demonstrates how higher education and public schools can work together to address Michigan’s critical shortage of special education teachers,” said Dr. Peggy Yates, Chair of the Education Department and Director of the Para to Pro Program at Alma College. “The model combines online coursework with face-to-face weekend intensives, allowing paraeducators to remain employed in their schools while completing their teacher preparation. Their on-the-job training, district-based mentoring and college coursework work together to create a comprehensive and accessible pathway to teacher certification.

“This model has proven to be both highly successful and incredibly popular with paraeducators and school districts,” said Dr. Yates. “I’m excited to see the research, program development and partnership we have built at Alma College and Alma Public Schools provide a foundation for expanding Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for paraeducators and districts across Michigan.”

Registered Apprentices will continue receiving wages and benefits from their school districts, enabling them to earn their degree and certification without sacrificing income or leaving the workforce.

WDI will also launch a second Registered Apprenticeship pathway using the refined model, demonstrating how the framework can be scaled across additional educator preparation programs and school districts.

“Michigan’s future depends on a workforce system where every learner has access to high-quality career pathways,” said Chong-Anna Canfora, Executive Director for the Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute. “MAPS strengthens that vision by opening registered apprenticeship pathways for future special education teachers, giving them the support and structure they deserve as they prepare to serve Michigan’s students."

By the conclusion of the five-year project, MAPS aims to establish a permanent statewide infrastructure to support educator Registered Apprenticeship Programs. This includes standardized competencies, implementation guidance, technical assistance resources, employer agreements, data systems and multiple group sponsors to ensure continued program growth.

More information about LEO’s State Apprenticeship Expansion efforts is available at Michigan.gov/Apprenticeship.

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