Applicant Resources

Apprentice resources

• Application (PDF)
  • We will begin accepting applications March 2025 for the Fall 2025 semester.
• Guidance for Apprentice (PDF)
• List of colleges/universities

Frequently Asked Questions

Non KSDE resources 

These will take you away from the KSDE website. 

Apprentice Checklist for the RTA Process

Read through the checklist and ensure you have completed each step as part of the RTA Program:

1. Secure district employment as a teacher apprentice.
    
2. Complete Apprenticeship Application with hiring district.
    
3. Have district assess your prior experience.
    
4. If you have prior experience as a paraprofessional or instructional aide in a K-12 classroom, discuss it with the district administration and have them use the apprentice competencies to assess your current skill set and how they can build training experiences for you in areas in which you lack experience or proficiency.
    
5. Register with KansasWorks, which is the Kansas Office of Apprenticeship’s apprentice database.  It is also a requirement for any apprentice wanting to use the services of the local workforce boards.
    
6. Contact your Local Workforce Development Board
   1. There are five Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDB) in the State of Kansas, each operated by a separate non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and serving a specific geography.  These LWDBs are charged with overseeing investments of federal, state and local workforce funds within that geography as well as serving the needs of both job seekers and employers to develop talent that meets the needs of the local economy.  Part of this work includes providing resources for eligible job seekers and apprentices who need support in order to meet their employment and training goals.  For qualified job seekers and apprentices, these supports may include tuition assistance and/or supportive services such as funds to pay for uniforms, books and other training-related fees, digital supports for training purposes such as Internet stipends or computer equipment vouchers, and/or transportation and childcare stipends.
       
7. Choose a college/university and enroll.
    
8. Complete FAFSA – Without completing this, you will potentially miss out on significant financial options for tuition. studentaid.gov
    
9. Apply for any scholarships/grants that are applicable to you:
   1. Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship 
   2. Kansas Promise Act Scholarship
   3. Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship 
   4. Veteran education benefits 
       
10. Once you are enrolled in a university/college, provide your district with a copy of your degree plan, so they know how many prior college credits you have and how many credits you have till you will need to complete your bachelor's degree.
     
11. Meet with your mentor and district administrator to build a training plan for your apprenticeship.
    1. This training plan provides the roadmap for the completion of your apprenticeship.  It helps you and the district know all the steps it will take to complete the apprenticeship.
        
12. Make sure to be in regular communication with your mentor, district administrator, college advisor, and professors.
     
13. Discuss with the district administration and your mentor a plan for formal evaluations and observations.
     
14. Submit your transcripts to the district after each semester.
     
15. Always advocate for yourself and your success.

Contact information:

apprentice@ksde.org
(785) 296-1862