RALEIGH, N.C. (NCN News) – Helping to reduce the teacher shortage. That’s the goal behind grants announced by the UNC system Monday (Oct. 12).
The University of North Carolina System has awarded $400,000 in new grant funding to 15 of its institutions. The funds will support apprenticeship programs and new teacher preparation pathways, bringing motivated and qualified educators to K-12 classrooms around the state.
Currently, more than 4,000 educators work in North Carolina public schools via temporary licenses, and the annual attrition rate for all public school teachers reached 10% last year, according to a recent report from the North Carolina Department of Public Institution.
“As a public university, our job is to take a clear-eyed look at the pressing needs of our state and adapt our programs to meet the moment,” said UNC System President Peter Hans said in a press release, “We have a real opportunity to steer more of our best graduates toward careers in the classroom, and that will make a tremendous difference for North Carolina.”
The UNC System has long been the largest educator of teachers in North Carolina, with many of the state’s public institutions being founded as teacher colleges.
But the ongoing shortage is prompting System leaders to explore additional routes for teacher preparation. These recent grant awards are designed to encourage public universities to build new points of entry into the teaching profession, especially for those who already are well-prepared to make the jump into a classroom setting.
For example, NC State University is creating a program to prepare veterans for teaching careers, offering mentorship and leadership development. The university is also designing a route for undergraduates to gain teacher licensure by graduating with a dual major in education and a high-demand specialty, such as mathematics.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is building an accelerated Master of Education pathway specifically for reading instruction.
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is designing an early recruitment program for English and history majors who want to graduate with a teaching license.
The University of North Carolina Asheville is creating an “earn-while-you-learn” pathway, with courses designed to accommodate adult learners who are already employed and interested in transitioning to a teaching career.
The University of North Carolina Pembroke is working with Bladen County Schools to build a tailored program that allows teaching assistants to gain full licensure.
The UNC System is also building teacher apprenticeship tracks at each institution, programs that will help universities meet growing demand for work-based learning opportunities.
“Our Schools of Education are leading the way in innovative approaches to fill more North Carolina classrooms with high-quality educators,” said Ashton Clemmons, the UNC System’s associate vice president for P12 strategy and policy. “We’re supporting a range of promising ideas to strengthen the workforce that builds our future through service as educators.”