Exploring Early Implementation of Pennsylvania’s Innovative Teacher and Principal Residency Grants

Many states struggle with persistent staffing shortages in certain districts and teaching positions, and with limited diversity in their teacher and principal workforces. Residency programs have emerged as promising ways to address these issues. REL Mid-Atlantic partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Education to examine the early efforts of programs that provide year-long clinical experiences and intensive supports to aspiring teachers and principals at institutions of higher education. The grants aim to avert potential educator shortages, increase diversity, improve cultural responsiveness, and produce well-prepared teachers and school leaders for the commonwealth's highest need schools.

The partnership studied how well programs are doing in accomplishing these goals early on. A new infographic and report explore factors that other states and districts can consider when implementing these programs, including:

• Recruiting teacher residents of color was difficult in rural areas.
• Sustaining financial aid was a concern when partner districts were not paying teacher residents a salary.
• Institutions needed sufficient time before the start of the school year to implement principal programs.