REL Mid-Atlantic is partnering with the New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of Recruitment, Preparation, and Certification (ORPC) to strengthen the state’s Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs (RTAPs). As New Jersey invests in apprenticeship pathways to better prepare teachers and address persistent shortages, this partnership will help build capacity of state leaders to examine program costs and outcomes, refine program design, and plan for long-term sustainability.
Together, we are building leaders’ capacity to use data and insights to inform funding decisions, guide continual improvement, and communicate the return on investments of RTAP—all in support of New Jersey’s broader goals to strengthen its teacher workforce and promote greater stability for students and schools.
Partnership organization: New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Recruitment, Preparation, and Certification
Current Projects
In 2024, ORPC launched two RTAPs with state grant funding, while additional apprenticeship programs began operating with other funding sources. As these early programs approach the end of their initial grant period and new programs emerge, state leaders are seeking stronger evidence about program outcomes, costs, and long-term sustainability. To support strategic decisions about future investments, ORPC is partnering with REL Mid-Atlantic to build leaders’ capacity to understand, improve, and communicate the return on investment of RTAPs.
In the short term, this project will strengthen leaders’ knowledge of fiscally sustainable program design, improve their ability to analyze and interpret cost and outcome data, and support clearer communication about the value of apprenticeship pathways. Over time, stronger analytic and strategic planning capacity will position New Jersey to make evidence-based decisions about the design, improvement, sustainability, and potential expansion of teacher apprenticeship programs within a constrained funding landscape.
Completed Projects
No completed projects at this time.