$2M Awarded to WKU College of Education and Behavioral Sciences for Rural Educator Apprenticeship

Boosting Career Prospects for K-12 Teachers in Rural Kentucky

Bowling Green, KY- The WKU College of Education and Behavioral Sciences has received a $2 million award from the U.S. Department of Education. The funding goes to support Project CARE, an initiative that aims to assist high school students in rural Kentucky as they pursue careers as K-12 teachers. The program fosters partnership with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System and bolsters the existing pathway for future teachers to kick start their college preparation during their high school years.

Dual Credit K-12 Teaching and Learning Early College Pathway

Enrolled students attend coursework at KCTCS and WKU. They greatly benefit from flexible instructional methods, clinical experiences in a residency model, and a thorough network of support, advising, and mentoring. Students have the opportunity to earn up to 60 hours toward their bachelor’s degree while still in high school. This includes fulfillment of the teaching and learning pathway, general education requirements, and up to 24 hours of the mandatory Educator Preparatory Program coursework. Courses completed at KCTCS are fully transferable to WKU.

Paid Registered Apprenticeship Program

Project CARE’s noteworthy feature is the creation of a paid Registered Apprenticeship Program for K-12 teachers. Participating students join the Registered Apprenticeship Program upon graduation from high school. The residential teaching method allows participants to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of high school graduation. Dr. Susan Keesey, the director and principal investigator for Project CARE, highlighted the promising prospects this program will provide for Kentucky students and schools.

An innovative proposal to tackle the exigent teacher shortage in rural areas, Project CARE is financed through the U.S. Department of Education’s Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development program. The vast majority, 97%, of the project’s $2,035,668 budget will be covered by this award.

A Solution to Teacher Shortage in Kentucky

Dr. Corinne Murphy, dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, acknowledged the benefits of this project stating that it would further establish impactful “Grow Your Own” opportunities, thus helping to address the teacher shortage in the region. Project CARE is slated to support teacher apprenticeship in 10 Kentucky school districts, including Caverna Independent, Grayson County, and Nelson County, among others.

By empowering rural communities with the means to further their education in their locality, Project CARE is a crucial step towards an efficient and ingrained educational system that values local resources. The program is scheduled to begin in Fall 2024, giving hope for a brighter future in rural Kentucky’s public education system.