Fourth Round of SD Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway Funded

April 7, 2026

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (TAP) Program will accept another estimated 40 students with a fourth cohort, thanks to funding provided by the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR).

TAP launched in the fall of 2023 with the goal of assisting paraprofessionals, or teacher's aides, in South Dakota schools, to become licensed teachers. The program provides significant funding to keep costs low for participants, who are only responsible for up to $1,000 a year in tuition, books, and state assessments.

Since the program first launched in 2023, more than 70 participants have graduated from the SD TAP program.

"There's no better place to recruit future teachers than our current classrooms in South Dakota," said Dr. David De Jong, dean of the College of Education & Human Performance. "We are thrilled to be able to serve another cohort of educators, and the big winners are students in our K-12 schools."

"I've enjoyed celebrating the past graduates of this program and seeing the strong partnership between my administration and our state universities," said Governor Larry Rhoden in a prior release from the South Dakota Department of Education (DOE). "When paraprofessionals can earn a degree right in their home community, it strengthens our workforce and helps our rural communities thrive."

This initiative, aimed at addressing teacher shortage challenges across the state, is a collaboration between the South Dakota Board of Regents, DOE, DLR, Dakota State University, Northern State University, and local school districts.

To learn more about SD TAP, visit South Dakota Department of Education.

Tags: Academics College of Education & Human Performance All News