CLI formally establishes TSR-RAP apprenticeship
The Children’s Learning Institute at UTHealth Houston celebrated the formal signing ceremony for its Texas School Ready-Registered Apprenticeship Program (TSR-RAP) on March 20. The ceremony, which included representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor and local and regional partners, formally establishes TSR-RAP as the state’s newest registered apprenticeship program supporting career advancement for teachers working with younger children.
TSR-RAP builds upon the Children’s Learning Institute’s signature TSR Comprehensive Program, a comprehensive teacher training model that supports teachers working with infants, toddlers, and pre-K children through extensive professional development and individualized coaching. Now in its 21st year, more than 30,000 teachers have participated in TSR Comprehensive to grow their skills and knowledge. Through TSR-RAP, the long-established program aims to support education, credentialing, and career pathway opportunities for early childhood education professionals in Texas.
TSR-RAP was developed in partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission to ensure that Texas’ infant, toddler, and preschool teachers are recognized and incentivized for their growing mastery of skills implemented in the classroom. Registered apprenticeships are a high-quality career pathway where agencies can develop and support the future workforce by helping apprentices learn on-the-job skills in their classrooms, receive wage increases, receive online instruction and coaching support, and prepare them for a nationally recognized credential.
“From its inception, CLI’s TSR Comprehensive program has been strategically focused on empowering teachers and building their competency in evidence-based teaching practices that lead to improved child outcomes,” said April Crawford, PhD, associate professor, co-director of the Children’s Learning Institute, Meg and Dick Weekley Distinguished Chair in Childhood Reading and Learning, and Michael Matthew Knight Memorial Professor in Pediatrics. “Extending the program to include a registered apprenticeship furthers our goals to support the early childhood workforce’s career pathways through high-quality professional learning, credentialing, and career advancement.”
By leveraging the TSR Comprehensive model, TSR-RAP is focused on helping early childhood teachers complete the training required to earn the highly sought-after Child Development Associate CDA® Credential™ and partnering with institutions of higher education for college credits and accessible pathways to higher education. Apprentices receive wage increases and stipends for milestones earned during the two-year apprenticeship program. In addition, they are given robust support and resources for professional development, including coaching and monitoring from specialized coaches and their school leaders.
Many early childhood teachers earn very low wages. Multiple research studies have shown that high-quality early childhood education positively impacts a child’s ability to be ready for school and later success in life. A program like TSR-RAP offers career advancement for teachers who are critical to ensuring positive early classroom experiences for young children.
The TSR-RAP launched in the fall of 2023 in three communities: Amarillo, the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and Houston, and currently serves 27 apprentices in its inaugural year. CLI looks forward to working with these diverse communities, learning from the first year of implementation, and continuing to scale TSR-RAP to other communities in the state.
“We are honored to support the new registered apprenticeship as it allows educators to be recognized for their professional advancements while responding to their communities’ need for quality education in classrooms that serve at-risk children,” said Rachel Martinez, MEd, assistant director of Texas School Ready. “Created to provide rigor and consistency, TSR-RAP recognizes and addresses each community’s needs and provides a sustainable program that can be replicated for future growth in additional Texas communities.”
“TSR-RAP provides an opportunity for participating early educators to receive assistance as they navigate the process towards a nationally recognized CDA® credential,” said Melissa Ply, MEd, Texas School Ready project manager. “Our apprentices are growing their professional knowledge with the latest research and receiving one-on-one support from their TSR coach as they implement teacher strategies. As they demonstrate their competencies and meet with a TSR-RAP specialist, they grow their skill set quickly in preparation for the CDA® Credential Exam. We are incredibly excited to be included as a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program and to support teachers’ career progression across the state.”
Looking into the future, CLI is excited to see how TSR-RAP can contribute to supporting educators across our state and providing pathways to new opportunities. For more information about TSR-RAP, click here.