Nationwide teacher shortages continue to strain schools and present challenges for student learning. Fueled by the rate of retirements continuing to outpace new entrants into the teacher pipeline, 74 percent of public schools across the United States had difficulty filling at least one teaching vacancy with a fully certified teacher before the start of the 2024-2025 school year. In rural districts, hiring certified teachers can be even more challenging. In South Dakota, 137 instructional staff positions were open at the start of the 2024-2025 school year and 47% of those positions remained vacant throughout the year. Many of the open positions required certification in special education. To fill this gap, South Dakota launched the South Dakota Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (SD TAP) program. With support from REL Central, South Dakota is using data and evidence to guide the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the program.
Earning while learning
SD TAP is a registered apprenticeship program designed to strengthen and expand South Dakota’s teacher pipeline by supporting paraprofessionals already working in South Dakota schools to become certified teachers, with a particular focus on special education and retaining talent within the state. Established and administered by the South Dakota Departments of Education and Labor, Dakota State University, and Northern State University, with REL Central support, the program’s “grow your own” approach allows paraprofessionals to earn a teaching credential and bachelor's degree in elementary education, special education, or secondary education while continuing to work in the classroom. Paraprofessionals are well-positioned to become certified teachers because they already work in schools, have strong ties to the communities where teachers are needed, and many have prior college coursework that can count toward a teaching degree. SD TAP’s flexible online format allows apprentices to complete their coursework in ways that fit their lives and schedules, continuing to work in their local schools while advancing their careers. Apprentices also have the opportunity to demonstrate competency by testing out of courses and earning college credit.
As of May 2026, there were 256 teacher apprenticeships across three cohorts. In addition, Cohort 4 is scheduled to start in fall 2026 with 71 new teacher apprentices. Across all cohorts, about half of the apprentices are obtaining degrees in special education or elementary education/special education.
REL Central’s Strengthening the Teacher Pipeline in South Dakota Partnership
To generate data to inform continuous improvement of the program, REL Central and South Dakota partnered to design and refine SD TAP’s mentoring component, establish competency-based credits, and conduct ongoing data collection tracking graduate placement, retention, and success. Highlights include:
- In spring 2023, REL Central helped South Dakota partners develop and administer a survey of paraprofessionals throughout the state to gauge their interest in becoming teachers. Of the more than 600 paraprofessionals who responded, more than 85 percent expressed interest in pursuing teacher certification, confirming South Dakota’s focus on paraprofessionals to expand the teacher pipeline.
- REL Central helped partners collect and analyze data from apprentices and mentors to inform program improvements. We provided evidence-based recommendations to support South Dakota to refine the mentoring component of the SD TAP program to better meet candidates’ and mentors’ needs.
- REL Central co-developed surveys of SD TAP graduates and principals of schools where they now work as teachers. These surveys will provide important information about how apprentices perform as teachers of record in the classroom. The graduate survey will also gather important workforce information, such as apprentices’ career paths and changes in salary.
- REL Central is working with South Dakota partners to build their capacity for ongoing data collection to inform program improvement and provide success metrics.
Early Success Metrics
As of May 2026, 118 apprentices have graduated from SD TAP and 86 percent of the first cohort that started in fall 2023 are certified and are working as teachers of record. All teachers have remained in South Dakota, and most are hired by their sponsoring district, filling local staffing shortages. Many are also teaching special education. Results from upcoming surveys of graduates of the SD TAP program and their principals will provide additional data on graduates’ preparedness and effectiveness as new teachers.
While SD TAP has been an important program initiative to address the state’s teacher shortage, it has also achieved the goals of both teacher preparation and registered apprenticeship programs in changing the lives of the adults who enter the apprenticeship program. SD TAP alters both the career and life trajectory of paraprofessionals who could not take a traditional path to teacher certification. It allows them to obtain a college degree and secure a higher-paying job, providing a more stable financial future for their families in a career that reflects their passion and commitment to students.
Check out REL Central’s fact sheet to learn more about our work on teacher apprenticeships.
