Amid a persistent statewide shortage of special education teachers, a pioneering apprenticeship program aims to change the game in Pennsylvania. Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU), the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU), and Bucks County Community College have launched the Commonwealth’s first undergraduate pathway focused on training and certifying PK–12 special education teachers.
Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry and the Department of Education, the initiative combines college coursework, on-the-job experience, and teacher certification—all while participants remain employed full time.
“This apprenticeship creates a sustainable pipeline for special education teachers by making certification more attainable for individuals already working in our schools,” said Deborah E. Schadler, PhD, PRSE, coordinator of undergraduate education at GMercyU. “It’s a direct response to the urgent need for qualified special educators and a continuation of our mission to transform lives through education.”
A Learn-and-Earn Approach
Participants—primarily Bucks IU paraprofessionals—begin by earning 60 credits at Bucks County Community College, and then go on to complete the remaining 60 through online courses to receive their degrees at GMercyU. Student teaching occurs within the Bucks IU system, fulfilling field experience requirements.
“This is about meeting future teachers where they are—financially, professionally, and logistically.”
Deborah E. Schadler, PhD, PRSE, coordinator of undergraduate education at GMercyU
Apprentices earn a full-time paraprofessional salary with structured pay increases as they progress academically. Bucks IU employees also receive a 10% tuition grant toward GMercyU coursework and may qualify for additional federal or state aid.
Since 2019, GMercyU graduates have earned more than 850 education-related certifications, including over 500 full teaching credentials.
A Timely Solution to a Growing Crisis
The partnership comes as Pennsylvania faces a severe teacher shortage, particularly in high-need areas such as special education, math, and science. While the state issued more than 6,600 teaching certificates in the 2023–24 school year—slightly up from the previous year—it still reports more than 5,500 vacancies, according to the Department of Education. Attrition is also a concern, with about 7% of teachers leaving the profession annually.
Experts cite low pay, burnout, declining enrollment in teacher preparation programs, and challenging working conditions as key drivers of the crisis.
But new approaches like the GMercyU program could help reverse the trend.
“The apprenticeship model for teaching is a really promising one,” said Laura Boyce, Pennsylvania executive director of Teach Plus, a national teacher advocacy organization. “The learn-and-earn model—where apprentices are on the job while earning a wage and working toward their undergraduate degree and certificate—is a model from the trades that has a lot of promise.”
Reimagining the Pipeline: A Nationwide Push
Pennsylvania’s apprenticeship is part of a growing national trend to reimagine how to recruit and prepare the next generation of special education teachers.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of PK-12 students nationally receiving special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act grew by 3.4% between fall 2022 and fall 2023—now totaling more than 7.5 million nationwide, or roughly 15% of all public school students. In Pennsylvania, that number is even higher at 21%.
Other states have launched similar apprenticeship-style programs that combine employment, academic coursework, and structured mentorship, including:
- Missouri: Missouri State University’s pathways for paraprofessionals offers educators a tuition-free route to certification while they stay employed in their current districts. More than 350 were enrolled as of 2024.
- Washington: The Washington Education Association created an apprenticeship residency in teaching designed for paraprofessionals with bachelor’s degrees. Initially funded by federal relief dollars, it now operates on competitive grants, with a focus on special education.
- California: National University in San Diego became a federally recognized sponsor of a registered apprenticeship program for K–12 teachers. Its flexible, mentorship-driven model aims to expand the special education workforce.
- Connecticut: At Quinnipiac University, a new program places graduate teaching students in East Haven and West Haven schools for a full academic year, targeting district-level special education shortages. The initiative is supported by a state grant.
Collectively, these programs—including the GMercyU apprenticeship—are redefining how special education teachers are trained and certified by removing barriers for in-service educators and directly addressing the nation’s chronic teacher shortages.
