Governor DeWine first announced his interest in principal apprenticeship during his 2024 state of the state address. He rightly noted that principals are “vitally important to a school’s success” and that they “create the conditions” for students and staff to thrive. Soon after, he directed the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) to create a principal apprenticeship program to bolster the state’s pipeline of school leaders. Like Ohio’s teacher apprenticeship program, it would provide aspiring school leaders with the opportunity to “watch veteran principals in action, through hands-on, in-school training that will better prepare them for the challenges of the job.”
In July, lawmakers signaled their support by passing Senate Bill 168, which called on DEW to develop and recommend a proposal for a principal apprenticeship program. By November, DEW was seeking feedback on its framework. And in February, when DeWine unveiled his budget recommendations, they included a requirement for DEW to establish a principal apprenticeship program. The program must provide “multiple pathways” for individuals to receive training and development in school leadership and administration, as well as the option to obtain a master’s degree. Licensed educators who are employed as teachers in public or chartered non-public schools and professionals who work outside education will be able to participate. They must be mentored by a school principal and complete on-site job training while on their way to a professional administrator license.
When House lawmakers released their version of the budget in early April, most of these provisions remained intact. But there was one big change, and it could easily impact the future success of the program. In his budget, DeWine proposed funding the program with an earmark of $5 million for each fiscal year. The House, however, eliminated the money. Instead, they shifted all costs to schools.
Without state support, it’s unlikely that schools will on-board principal apprentices. To be considered an apprenticeship, programs must offer paid, on-the-job learning experience under the supervision of an experienced mentor, job-related classroom training, and the chance to earn an industry-recognized credential. But doing so will require time, resources, and manpower—and that means money. Many schools are already hesitant to forgo the status quo in favor of innovation like an apprenticeship program. Placing the entire cost of the program at the feet of schools is not likely to incentivize participation.
It’s not just operational costs that schools would have to swallow. Paying apprentices for their work requires additional funds, too. And spending those dollars is non-negotiable. An apprenticeship isn’t an apprenticeship unless the trainee is being paid. If the state was helping schools cover operational and training costs, as DeWine’s budget recommended, then asking schools to pay apprentice stipends or salaries would be more than fair. But lawmakers in the House placed the entire fiscal burden on schools. That significantly decreases the likelihood they’ll participate.
It doesn’t have to be this way. In 2023, North Dakota became the first state to receive approval to include principals among federally-supported registered apprenticeship programs. While crafting Ohio’s framework, DEW officials spoke to leaders there, who likely told them that North Dakota established a grant that awards funds to preparation providers willing to meet state requirements. Those requirements include a written final report that provides participant progress data, an overall evaluation of program effectiveness, and recommendations for improvements. These findings could be instrumental to bolstering the principal pipeline in North Dakota. By eliminating DeWine’s proposed funding, House lawmakers have eliminated Ohio’s opportunity to do the same.
Over the last few years, apprenticeships have become an increasingly popular solution for school staffing shortages. Under DeWine’s proposed budget, Ohio was poised to join the ranks of states that are helping their schools implement innovative talent pipeline solutions. The House’s budget, however, significantly diminishes the likelihood that Ohio’s principal apprenticeship program will be successful. For the sake of students and schools, here’s hoping the Senate restores the funding set-aside.
