The Marshalltown Community School District was among the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Program grant awardees announced by Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday.
The grant program will provide opportunities for current high school students and adults to earn a paraeducator certificate and associate’s degree, and for paraeducators to earn their bachelor’s degree, all while learning and working in the classroom. The program will begin this fall during the 2022-2023 school year. To learn more about the pilot program, visit here.
As one of 19 applicant school districts/consortiums included in the program, MCSD was awarded a grant in the amount of $1,236,870 in partnership with the Grinnell, BCLUW, Eldora-New Providence, West Marshall, East Marshall, Iowa Falls, Montezuma, and GMG school districts. Additionally, MCSD was among the 30 partnering Rural School Advocates of Iowa (RSAI) included in a $6,376,113 grant award via the Cherokee CSD.
In total, the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Program is awarding $45.6 million to 134 school districts statewide; the funding is made available through the American Rescue Plan Act.
“Growing our teacher and paraeducator talent pipeline helps ensure Iowa students have access to a world-class education today and into the future,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo in Thursday’s announcement. “I commend these school districts and postsecondary partners for their innovative plans to start registered apprenticeships that will inspire and support the next generation of educators in Iowa communities.”
We look forward to further strengthening key career pathways through the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Program!
