Nebraska Special Education Apprenticeships Get $4.9 Million Boost

November 2, 2026 - 19:33

A $4.9 million federal grant will help the Nebraska Department of Education expand and support apprenticeships for special education teachers across the state.

The funding is intended to address persistent shortages in special education staffing by creating a paid pathway into the classroom for people who want to teach students with disabilities but may not be able to afford a traditional degree program. Apprenticeships let participants earn a salary while they complete required coursework and receive mentoring from experienced teachers.

State education officials said the money will allow the department to work with school districts and teacher preparation programs to build out the apprenticeship model, which pairs on the job training with formal instruction. Participants are expected to commit to working in Nebraska schools after finishing the program.

Special education has been one of the hardest positions for districts to fill, particularly in rural parts of the state where fewer candidates apply for open jobs. Supporters of the apprenticeship approach say it can reach people already working in schools, such as paraprofessionals, who want to move into teaching but need a more affordable route to licensure.

The grant is expected to cover several years of program development, including recruitment, tuition support and mentoring for apprentices. Department officials said they plan to track how many apprentices complete the program and stay in Nebraska classrooms, with the goal of creating a model that can be sustained after the federal funding ends.