LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) announced today that it has been awarded a five‑year federal grant to expand registered apprenticeships for special‑education (SPED) teachers and to launch Arkansas’s first registered apprenticeship for developmental therapists, who serve infants and toddlers with disabilities through early‑intervention programs.

Funding and Timeline

The U.S. Department of Education is providing $702,324 for the first year of the Arkansas Special Education and Early Intervention Registered Apprenticeship Project. If the program continues to meet annual approval requirements, it could receive more than $4.3 million through September 2031, depending on the availability of federal funds.

How the Apprenticeship Model Works

The grant was awarded through the Fiscal Year 2026 Expanding Career Pathways and Workforce Readiness competition. It is designed to strengthen the workforce of highly qualified special‑education teachers and early‑intervention professionals across Arkansas. The apprenticeship model allows working adults to earn a credential while remaining in their current jobs, with mentors providing on‑the‑job training and no tuition debt at the end of the program.

“Through LEARNS, Arkansas made a commitment to better prepare the teachers and early‑learning educators that serve our children, and this grant helps us keep it,” said Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva. “Future educators can train for these jobs while they work in their own communities, with mentors beside them, and no tuition debt at the end. That is how we grow a workforce that stays.”

Building on the LEARNS Act

The project supports the goals of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, which expanded state efforts to recruit, reward, and retain teachers. By allowing professionals to complete a credential without leaving their positions, the apprenticeship program aligns with the Arkansas ACCESS initiative, which promotes affordable, workforce‑aligned routes to certification.

Arkansas has long faced critical shortages of special‑education teachers and developmental therapists. Currently, the state has only one in‑state preparation program for developmental therapists. This grant will expand capacity, creating a statewide network of school districts and early‑intervention provider organizations, with priority given to high‑need regions.

Statements from ADE Leaders

“Our teacher apprenticeship model is working, and this grant lets us extend it in two directions,” said Dr. Brandie Benton, assistant commissioner of Educator Effectiveness and Licensure. “We can grow the number of special‑education apprentices, and we can apply the same grow‑your‑own approach to early‑intervention, where the need for qualified providers is just as serious. It is the kind of affordable, job‑connected pathway that LEARNS and ACCESS were designed to encourage.”

Program Details and Accountability

The ADE will build a statewide network of participating school districts and early‑intervention agencies. Trained mentors will receive stipends to support apprentices. The project will track recruitment, enrollment, completion, credential attainment, retention, and cost per apprentice. Results will be used to refine and improve the program throughout the grant period.

In 2022, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education developed the Arkansas Teacher Registered Apprenticeship in partnership with the Arkansas Office of Skills Development, school districts, and higher‑education institutions. The pathway originally provided funding for working adults completing bachelor’s degrees in K‑12 licensure areas. In 2025 the program was expanded to include special‑education licensure, with ADE serving as the educator preparation program provider. The new federal award will further extend the model to developmental therapists, creating a pipeline of qualified early‑intervention professionals.

What This Means for Families

For families of children with disabilities, the expansion promises more locally trained, highly qualified educators and therapists who understand community needs. By reducing geographic and financial barriers, the apprenticeship model aims to keep skilled professionals in Arkansas, improving continuity of care and education for vulnerable students.

For more information about the Arkansas Teacher Registered Apprenticeship program, visit the ADE website.

Original reporting: KY3 Springfield (local) — read the source article.