The South Dakota Departments of Education and Labor and Regulation recognized the newest graduates of the South Dakota Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (SD TAP) on December 13. With this class, more than 70 paraprofessionals have now completed the program, and most have signed teaching contracts with their sponsoring schools or districts.
SD TAP allows paraprofessionals to earn a teaching certificate while continuing to work and receive a paycheck. Through coursework at Dakota State University and Northern State University, participants complete degree requirements and gain hands-on student-teaching experience in their own districts, enabling them to remain in their communities. Graduates earn bachelor’s degrees in elementary, special, or secondary education.
Program leaders praised SD TAP for opening affordable, supportive pathways into teaching and for strengthening schools with well-trained educators. This fall, 15 apprentices from districts including Bison, Rapid City, and Spearfish, graduated from DSU.
SD TAP is a collaborative effort of DOE, DLR, the South Dakota Board of Regents, DSU, and NSU, with overall program growth continuing to draw strong interest statewide.
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