The state hired the teachers’ union to train special ed teachers

Why the program is under fire from the right, and what it actually does

A one-of-a-kind teacher training program that paved a new pathway for special education instructors in Washington has been under intense scrutiny of late, mostly from people wary of a too-cozy relationship between the state and the politically influential Washington Education Association, which runs the program.

The program, called the WEA Apprenticeship Residency in Teaching, applies the apprenticeship model traditionally used by labor unions in the trades to education. This program allows people with a bachelor’s degree to get certified after 18 months of on-the-job training and mentorship, while earning a paycheck of about $40K annually.

The ability to earn a living wage while completing the certification is a departure from traditional teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities that collect tuition from students doing the work. For comparison, the University of Washington’s accelerated teaching certification program takes two years to complete and costs about $28K in tuition—a financial barrier for many paraeducators or substitutes already working in Washington classrooms.

“This is a program that’s been under some scrutiny from the start,” WEA President Larry Delaney told The Observer. “It is very unique. Truly the only one of its kind in the country—a union-led teacher prep program. When things are different, they’re called into question. That’s what we’re seeing right now.”

Though Democrats in the House have moved a bill to validate the use of the labor-led teacher apprenticeship program in Washington, it's become a lightning rod on the other side of the aisle. Conservative media has used the program as an example of the close ties between the Washington Education Association’s political arm and the state Democratic party. Brandi Kruse spotlighted the program in a segment on her YouTube show and podcast, Un/Divided, as did conservative talk show radio host Ari Hoffman.

WEA members meet with Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo, in February. Ortiz-Self sponsored a bill pertaining to teacher residency programs that recently passed the House. Photo courtesy of WEA Advocacy.

Why this matters: Nobody in Washington state politics can justifiably dispute the political influence of the Washington Education Association, or the teacher’s union close ties and highly visible backing of key Democrats in the statehouse. But is it really a surprise? Democrats are generally pro-union and firmly in power in Washington, which draws even more labor support. That’s politics—and so is conservative media’s framing of the teacher apprenticeship program as a political money laundering scheme between Democrats, the state education agency, and the WEA.

We examined the program closely, and the argument that it’s simply a political kickback doesn’t hold up. Particularly when you actually talk to the school districts with consistent gaps in their special education workforce that have benefited from the apprenticeship program, and continue to finance the wages of these apprentices out of their local budgets.

---

Join us for happy hour in Olympia on March 25

Come join The Observer the evening of March 25 at The Heritage Room in downtown Olympia for tasty snacks, beverages, adult and otherwise, and a spicy debate on the state of the budget and related issues. To register, go here.

PQ/TG/SK