More apprenticeships, not more money solution to Wisconsin’s teacher shortage

(The Center Square) – While Wisconsin’s state superintendent is calling for more money to help solve the state’s teacher shortage, a reform group is suggesting another way.

The Institute for Reforming Government said the latest report from Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction shows a huge drop in young teachers in the state.

The report, IRG said, “shows nearly one-in-five of Wisconsin public school teachers quit before their third year teaching.”

IRG’s CJ Szafir says that kind of turnover is driving Wisconsin’s teacher shortage. He says the report shows the need for innovation and reform, “not more of the same.”

“Schools are begging for great educators. Throwing money at the same old solutions continues to fail. State leaders must step up and innovate instead of overspending on already failing programs,” Szafir added. “Forty-six other states have the solution. It’s time Wisconsin embraces teacher apprenticeships.”

The report details some of Wisconsin’s teacher shortage. It states:

●     Only 55.6% of teachers were still teaching in public schools by their seventh year. The rate for special education teachers was even lower at 46%.

●     79.3% of [would be teachers] became licensed and only 66.6% of completers went on to become employed in a Wisconsin public school.

State Superintendent Jill Underly said the numbers show a need for more public funding for teachers.

Szafir said the numbers show the need for young teachers to be better prepared for the realities of the classroom. He said apprenticeships are an effective way to “increase classroom experience, lower student debt, and solve the teacher shortage.”

“Battle-tested teachers are better prepared to manage classrooms and stay in the communities that hired them,” Szafir said.

IRG has been pushing for an expanded teacher apprenticeship program in Wisconsin for years.

The state already has a small teacher apprenticeship program, but it is limited to just a few school districts.

Szafir says they hope to get some support for the expansion that is included in Gov. Evers’ proposed budget. But that budget is due to be largely scrapped, and Republican lawmakers have not yet said where they stand on IRG’s plan.