There are 31 additional apprenticeship spots available for the 4th Cohort of the South Dakota Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway (SD TAP) program.
Fall 2026 enrollment was scheduled to accept up to 40 participants, but Governor Larry Rhoden has allocated $500,000 from the state’s Future Fund to allow for 31 extra spots.
SD TAP was created in 2023 with the goal of addressing teacher shortages. Over a two-year period, participants are enabled to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary, secondary or special education while continuing their work as paraprofessionals
State Department of Education Secretary Joe Graves says SD TAP has been “delivering strong results in combating the teacher shortage and equipping educators with the skills they need to lead a classroom well.”
This past weekend (May 9, 2026), 50 SD TAP teachers earned their diplomas from Dakota State University (DSU) and Northern State University (NSU), bringing the total number of teachers created through this program to 118.
Department of Labor (DLR) Secretary Marcia Hultman says teacher apprenticeships don’t just prepare educators for the classroom– “they create lifelong leaders and learners who will inspire generations to come.”
Rhoden says South Dakota’s teacher apprenticeship program is “a proven model that supports our teachers and our communities by developing more certified teachers and keeping educators in our schools.”
SD TAP is made possible thanks to the partnership between the DOE, the DLR, DSU, NSU, the South Dakota Board of Regents, and local school districts.
- April 15, 2026 – Applications closed
- June 15-19, 2026 – Selection notification occurs
- July 15, 2026 – Orientation Kickoff in Pierre for selected apprentices and their local primary mentor-teachers
- Fall 2026 – Classes to begin
- May 2028- Grant funding associated with Cohort 4 ends
You can learn more about SD TAP on the DOE website, https://doe.sd.gov/oatq/TAP.aspx.
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