UNLV awarded $3M grant for unique educator training program

The Nevada Forward Initiative, a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship program in the West, helps prospective educators earn a teaching degree while still maintaining employment. Officials hope the funds could train up to 300 new educators. 

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), has been awarded nearly $3 million from the US Department of Education to help prepare at least 300 additional educators for the classroom and boost recruitment efforts, US Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s office announced this week. 

The university will receive approximately $2.9 million over the next five years for its Nevada Forward Initiative, a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship program in the West that helps paraprofessionals, substitutes, and other school support staff to earn a teaching degree while still maintaining employment. The funds will help specifically train educators for Nevada’s growing English Learner student population, according to Cortez Masto’s office. 

“I’ve heard from Nevada families about how important it is to ensure that our students can get a strong public education, and that starts with making sure we have the teachers we need to reach the next generation,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. “I’ve seen Nevada Forward firsthand, and I’m glad that this funding I secured is coming to support their efforts to train and hire more Nevada teachers and set up our kids for success.” 

The Nevada Forward program has also received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, which Cortez Masto and fellow Democratic Nevada US Sen. Jacky Rosen voted for before it was eventually signed into law by President Joe Biden. The program has already registered more than 500 teacher apprentices and serves more than 1,110 students. 

About 14% of Nevada’s public school children are English language learners, according to Cortez Masto’s office. About 70% of Nevada Forward’s participants come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, which officials say reflects Nevada’s diverse student body. 

The program also offers training and accreditation in early childhood, special education, and K-12 education. 

“Nevada Forward is a pioneering educator workforce model, demonstrating strong partnerships among higher education, K-12 school systems, state and federal agencies, and communities to address complex workforce challenges like teacher shortages,” UNLV College of Education Dean Danica Hays said in a release announcing the funding. “Since 2021, state and federal support for teacher apprenticeships has shifted the landscape for Nevada’s teacher workforce and the children and families they serve.”