Students participating as Apprentice Teachers (ATs) employed in Oklahoma public schools in support staff roles can complete their elementary education degree by taking classes online and earning credits towards field placements hours by counting their work hours as their field experience hours or receiving teacher preparation training at their work site. This option allows students to continue earning income while completing their degrees.

ATs will gain experience in the classroom setting beyond their assigned work duties that align with degree program expectations for teacher candidates. These experiences will fulfill the required field experiences per degree and state requirements and the DOL apprentice work competencies for teacher candidates.

Trained mentorship will provide rich instructional and pedagogical opportunities for students to learn and practice on the job. Dedicated LEA mentors and OSU faculty will provide students with guidance and support during coursework, on-the-job field experience completion, and the internship.

The EEO program offers a fully online undergraduate comprehensive degree. Classes are offered online in one of three formats: asynchronous, synchronous, or hybrid (classes only meet a few times synchronously throughout the semester). The flexibility afforded to students allows them to work and schedule their coursework in ways that best meet their needs. The field experience requirements are completed in a grades 1-8 public school setting where the student is employed, if possible.

The OSU RTAP is a registered apprenticeship program with the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center (OPSRC) and the Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship for the Oklahoma K-12 Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program. The DOL supports partnerships with schools and educator programs and encourages practical experiences combined with rigorous coursework designed to prepare students for teacher certification.

This pathway is open to individuals who aspire to become licensed teachers. To participate, candidates must:

• Be enrolled in the OSU’s Elementary Education Online degree program.
• Be admitted to the OSU Professional Education Unit (PEU).
• Have at least 2.5 overall GPA.
• Secure an employment position within a participating school district. An employed position may include any position considered as a support staff position.
• Be recommended for the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (RTAP) by the Local Education Agency (LEA).
• Complete all necessary forms and requirements by OPSRC and Oklahoma Department of Labor within designated deadlines.
• Provide a copy of a completed background check to the Office of Educator Support.

ATs will be provided with experiences in the following areas, as outlined by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the InTasc Model Core Teaching

Standards:

• CAEP R1.1: The Learner and Learning
• CAEP R1.2: Content
• CAEP R1.3: Instructional Practice
• CAEP R1.4: Professional Responsibility
• InTasc Model Core Teaching Standards 1 – 10

The Office of Educator Support (OES) is partnering with selected Oklahoma school districts to provide the RTAP to their employees who qualify. Please contact the OES or your school district for more information.

Students interested in enrolling in the RTAP begin by applying to OSU. Once accepted, an academic advisor will meet with them to discuss the Elementary Education Online (EEO) program, and the student will complete an application to participate in the RTAP. The Office of Educator Support (OES) personnel will contact them to discuss the RTAP requirements and the participating school districts to help them complete their field experience requirements.

At the completion of all field experience degree requirements, apprentices will meet the DOL required minimum of 2000 work hours. The OPSRC accepts work hours and study hours as field hours towards the DOL minimum work hours standard, and OES will verify work hours towards the required field experience hours based on teacher work competencies during their on-the-job training as outlined in each of the field experience courses: CIED 2453 Introduction to Teaching and Learning, CIED 3622 Middle Level Education, CIED 4373 Classroom Environments and Experiences (Semester 1 of the internship, and the student teaching internship (Semester 2 of the internship).

ATs must demonstrate proficiency in the areas of pedagogy, instructional delivery, assessment, analysis of teaching, and professionalism. Field experience evaluation tools and competency checklists will be provided for each of the field experience courses and the student teaching internship.

OSU offers tuition rates according to a block rate tuition structure. Tuition and fee details are available on the OSU Office of the Bursar site.

Tuition and Fees Estimator

Cost estimates do not include textbooks or exam proctoring fees. Cost will vary if coursework is not fully completed online. Active-duty military may qualify for resident tuition rate.

Military Members: Beginning Fall 2022, active-duty military or military veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserves are eligible to receive the in-state tuition rate when admitted to one of OSU's approved online degree or certificate programs. To receive the in-state tuition rate, students should submit a copy of their DD214 or NGB-22 with application materials. Other forms of documentation may be possible.

As an OSU student, ATs can be considered for general university scholarships as well as CEHS scholarships. Students are automatically considered for general university scholarships when they apply to OSU. For the CEHS scholarships, they must apply each year. Here is the website: https://education.okstate.edu/undergraduatestudents/scholarships/

The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid has a list of outside scholarships that students can learn more about here: https://go.okstate.edu/scholarships-financialaid/types-of-aid/scholarships-and-grants/outside-scholarships.html

The Financial Planning Coaches have more specific information and can help students identify sources of funding. (https://go.okstate.edu/scholarships-financial-aid/financialplanning-coaches/)

Schools districts interested in partnering with OSU STLES and OPSRC will contact the OPSRC at 405-212-4802 or via email at info@opsrc.net or Dr. Toni Ivey, Director of Education Support & P12 Outreach at 405-744-9509 or toni.ivey@okstate.edu for more information about participation in the OSU RTAP. A representative from OPRSC and the RTAP will meet with the LEA to discuss the pathway, identify support staff employees for eligibility to participate as apprentices. On-the-job training and work competency requirements will be discussed to identify how the LEA and the OSE RTAP will work together to meet the DOL requirements for apprentices.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) will be established between the stakeholders to outline the responsibilities for participation in the RTAP.

Students enrolled in the Elementary Education Online program who are interested in the RTAP will complete an application to determine eligibility to participate. The Office of Educator Support will notify the students and the LEA partner if students are eligible. OPRSC will work with OES and the LEA on apprenticeship placements if the student is approved to enroll in this pathway.

OPRCS will work with the school district, assigned mentor, and the apprentice to provide training on the OSU RTAP requirements.

The stakeholders, including OES, OPRSC, school district personnel, mentor, apprentice, and the field course instructor will work together according to the MOU for successful completion of the work competencies and course credit requirements.