UC’s Transitional B Apprentice Teacher Certification Program to Ease Looming Teacher Shortage
As many baby boomers plan their retirement, a teacher shortage is imminent in New York State. In fact, the effects are already being felt – particularly in science, language and other secondary school specials. To help with this impending problem, Utica College will once again offer the Transitional B Apprentice Teacher Certification Program and will run a summer cohort starting this May.
Enrollment in teacher education programs across the state has dropped 47 percent since 2009, according to New York State United Teachers Union (NYSUT). To make matters worse, NYS Teacher Retirement System projects that one-third of current teachers in the state could retire in the next five years. “That means that New York State will need about 180,000 teachers in the next decade,” explained Michelle Licht, president of Williamsville Teachers Association and member of the NYSUT board of director