State Investment to Increase School Staffing

Governor Ned Lamont, Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, and Labor

Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo recently announced the launch of several new multi-agency state initiatives designed to address educator shortages in Connecticut.

The initiatives will support the creation of a new teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, and expand existing high school “grow-your-own” programs, which recruit and train teachers from within communities where they live and work.

As of March 2023, school districts reported about 1,300 teaching vacancies and another 1,300 paraeducator vacancies. More than 60 percent of the vacancies are located in the state’s Alliance Districts Special education, math, and science continue to be significant shortage areas while nearly three-quarters of all paraeducator vacancies are in special education.

The funding will expand programs such as Educators Rising and NexGen Educators

Resources will also be provided for registered apprenticeships that include classroom training, on the job learning, and mentors.

This $3 million initiative will double the number of high schools offering programs for aspiring educators and help expand educator diversity. The agencies will also launch a statewide campaign to attract more