Project: Leveraging the Potential of Teacher Residency Programs (TRPs)

Scope

The Region 5 Comprehensive Center (R5CC) proposes to use funds to support local implementation of growing, diversifying, and retaining the educator workforce through Teacher Residency Programs (TRPs) across the Region. To build capacity of state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of TRPs, we propose the following activities: 1) Hosting a TRP Virtual Engagement Kick-off, 2) Hosting topical webinars (2-3 webinars), and 3) Facilitating a networked community (ongoing).

High-Leverage Problem

Recruitment and retention challenges are leading to teacher shortages across the nation. Teacher Residency Programs (TRPs) combine coursework in education with extensive on-the-job training. There is a pressing need for SEAs and LEAs to build capacity using American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to support the design and implementation of TRPs for longer-term recovery efforts and leverage other federal funds, along with state and local resources, to fully support and sustain TRPs. To support SEAs, and LEAs, we propose capacity-building activities that will focus on key evidence-based factors. In particular, West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is prioritizing the identification of strategies to increase the number of qualified teacher candidates via TRPs.

Approach to Capacity-Building Services

This plan builds on efforts underway in West Virginia to support and implement TRPs. As of July 1, 2021, West Virginia's educator preparation programs (EPPs) were required to begin transitioning to the West Virginia Residency Model (WVRM), a residency-based teacher preparation program. We will conduct a needs sensing effort, both formal and informal discussion, as well as landscape scans within our states, and potentially beyond the region, to identify key players to join the discussion on TRPs. From there, we will host a virtual kick-off event that establishes a network of subject-matter experts (SMEs) and field practitioners (SEAs, LEAs, and EPPs). We will conduct 2-3 topical webinars focused on evidence-based practices for identified needs and key factors of TRPs—for example, recruitment and selection of residents as well as processes for matching residents and cooperating teachers. After the webinars, we will develop and facilitate a networked community to pilot resources that support implementation of TRPs across the SEAs and LEAs.