'Apprenticeship degrees' create earn-and-learn opportunities

Teacher apprentice Ja'net Williams helps first-graders with math at a California charter school Photo: EdSource

Higher education must reinvent itself to survive the collapse of enrollment -- and public confidence --argue Michael B. Horn and Joe E. Ross of Reach University. They envision a system of affordable earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship degrees.

Reach University, an accredited nonprofit, specializes in enabling classroom aides to earn teaching degrees. Michigan and Tennessee have launched teacher-preparation programs that combine work and study.

New Jersey has contracted with Thomas Edison State University to offer apprenticeship degrees in a variety of fields.

Nationwide, most degree apprenticeships are in teaching and library jobs, reports New America. Also popular are health-care occupations and "more traditional apprenticeship occupations like construction and manufacturing." With the exception of teaching, most enable entry-level workers to earn a two-year degree. In some cases, they don't need the degree, but many believe they'll be able to rise higher with academic training.

Apprenticeship makes a lot of sense in teaching. I'd guess that a new teacher with years of experience as an aide is much more effective than someone who's only had a few months as a student teacher.