Overview

In September 2026, a statewide educator-workforce strategy designed to strengthen the recruitment, development, advancement, and retention of teachers and school leaders, particularly in high-need schools was announced by the Kansas State Department of Education. The initiative’s goal is to establish a career-ladder and apprenticeship-based workforce model that addresses educator recruitment and retention while creating clearer pathways for career advancement within the profession.

Major components include:

• expansion of the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program
• creation of a registered principal apprenticeship program
• creation of a registered reading specialist program
• establishment of career pathways extending from teacher to mentor or lead teacher to school leader
• strategic staffing models intended to strengthen high-need schools
• student-success outcomes.

The initiative represents an expansion of registered apprenticeship beyond initial teacher preparation by applying the model to additional professional and leadership roles within the K–12 educator workforce.

Background

The initiative is supported by a U.S. Department of Education's Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program. The work builds on the Kansas State Board of Education's school-improvement model and existing efforts to develop a high-quality educator workforce. Kansas had already established a Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program; the new federal funding enables the state to expand teacher apprenticeship while developing apprenticeship pathways for school principals and reading specialists.

Partners

• Led by the Kansas State Department of Education under the direction of the Kansas State Board of Education.
• Implementation involve Kansas school districts and other organizations participating in educator preparation, registered apprenticeship, workforce development, and school improvement.
• The federal Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Funding

$8.4 million over three years through the federal Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program.

Resources

Kansas State Department of Education. (2026, September 21). Kansas awarded $8.4 million federal grant to strengthen educator pipeline. Kansas announcement

U.S. Department of Education. Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program. Federal program information