Helena, Montana – Montana officials announced the launch of a major new apprenticeship initiative aimed at addressing teacher shortages across the state while creating new career pathways for future educators, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Governor Greg Gianforte and Sarah Swanson revealed the new Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, which state leaders say will help strengthen Montana’s long-term education workforce through paid classroom training and hands-on teaching experience.
The program is being funded through a $1 million grant provided by the United States Department of Labor under the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula program.
Officials said Western Governors University is partnering with 26 Montana school districts to prepare 78 teacher apprentices in six high-demand certification areas.
The initiative is designed to help schools facing persistent staffing shortages while giving future teachers the opportunity to earn income and gain classroom experience during their training.
“Montana is leading the way in developing innovative workforce solutions,” Governor Gianforte said. “Through our 406 JOBS initiative, we are tearing down barriers to education and workforce training in new ways by offering new pathways to employment to strengthen our schools, support our communities, and invest in the future of our state.”
Paid Classroom Experience For Future Teachers
Under the apprenticeship program, participants will receive paid classroom experience for the full four-year duration of the program while working directly with experienced mentor teachers.
At the same time, apprentices will complete academic coursework through accredited higher education partners before eventually becoming licensed K-12 educators in Montana after successful completion of the program.
State leaders say the structure is intended to remove financial obstacles that often prevent people from entering the teaching profession, especially in smaller communities where schools have struggled to recruit qualified educators.
Jeff Borden, executive dean and senior vice president of the WGU School of Education, said the program could have a major impact on Montana’s schools.
“We are incredibly proud to deepen our partnership with one of our founding states through the Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program,” Borden said. “Thanks to this grant, we are working to eliminate financial hurdles for our candidates and ensuring that Montana’s rural and frontier classrooms will be led by highly qualified, homegrown educators.”
Borden also praised Governor Gianforte’s efforts tied to workforce development initiatives.
“We thank the Governor for his visionary leadership in workforce development and are proud to work alongside state leaders and districts to help strengthen opportunities for educators and schools across Montana,” he added.
The launch of the program comes alongside a new workforce analysis released by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry as part of the governor’s broader 406 JOBS initiative.
According to the report, Montana is expected to experience approximately 3,960 education-related job openings each year over the next decade, highlighting growing demand for teachers and other school employees statewide.
“Montana continues to face workforce shortages across the education sector, with many occupations – including teachers and paraprofessionals – currently undersupplied statewide,” Commissioner Swanson said. “By expanding Teacher Registered Apprenticeships and aligning this work to our 406 JOBS initiative, we are building a pipeline of highly qualified educators who are trained in Montana, for Montana.”
School Districts Across Montana Join Program
The apprenticeship initiative includes participation from school districts throughout the state, including districts in Anaconda, Bridger, Canyon Creek, Colstrip, Creston, Culbertson, Deer Park, Dutton/Brady, Froid, Harlowton, Havre, Helena, Hobson, Hot Springs, Joliet, Laurel, Lockwood, Marion, Noxon, Polson, Roy, Somers Lakeside, St. Ignatius, Sweet Grass County, Vaughn, and several additional districts.
Officials said the Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program is part of Montana’s larger effort to expand registered apprenticeships and workforce pathways in multiple industries through the 406 JOBS initiative.
State leaders hope the program will not only address teacher shortages but also encourage more residents to build long-term careers in education within their own communities.
