This funding will support an innovative apprenticeship program designed to combat the state's ongoing teacher shortage by placing Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) students into classrooms for a full academic year.​

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In partnership with the West Haven and East Haven school districts, the program will embed 17 apprentices — eight in East Haven and nine in West Haven — into elementary, special education or secondary education roles, depending on district needs. Each apprentice will work alongside a qualified, trained mentor teacher, gaining hands-on experience while receiving a comprehensive compensation package.​

The compensation package includes:

• Stipend: A $10,000 stipend funded by the ARPA grant, disbursed monthly. Apprentices will receive $900 per month from September through January, increasing to $1,100 per month from February through June.​

• Tuition Offset: A $20,000 reduction in tuition costs, with $15,000 funded by the partner school districts and $5,000 by the ARPA grant. This offset will be applied directly to the apprentices' tuition invoices, distributed as $10,000 during the academic year and an additional $5,000 in the second summer session.​

Anne Dichele, dean of the School of Education at Quinnipiac, emphasized the program's significance.

"This apprenticeship initiative exemplifies our commitment to preparing the next generation of educators while directly addressing the critical teacher shortages in our state,” Dichele said. “By integrating our MAT students into real-world classroom settings with experienced mentors, we are fostering a practical learning environment that benefits both the apprentices and the communities they serve."

Connecticut has been grappling with teacher shortages, particularly in areas such as special education, mathematics and bilingual education. For the 2024-25 academic year, the state Department of Education identified 11 teacher certification endorsement areas with significant demand, including special education and bilingual education across all grades. ​

Moreover, a December 2022 report from the state Office of Legislative Research highlighted that 71% of teaching vacancies in Connecticut were concentrated in "Alliance Districts," which encompass 36 of the state's lowest-performing school systems and serve about 44% of all students. ​

By collaborating with local school districts, Quinnipiac's apprenticeship program aims to alleviate these shortages by equipping future educators with the necessary skills and experience to thrive in diverse classroom environments.