New Jersey Tutoring Corps Tutor Apprenticeship Program
New Jersey Tutoring Corps (NJTC) was the first Registered Tutor Apprenticeship Program (TAP) in the nation in 2024. Through their programming, NJTC developed systems and structures to provide on-the-job training, support content mastery, and create opportunities for apprentices to close their own educational gaps. The program provides an increase in wages and culminates in earning a national tutor credential, setting tutors up for long-term workforce success.
NJTC began working with their state Apprenticeship Training Representative (ATR), Nicole Field, in 2023 to complete the paperwork to become a registered apprenticeship program. In February 2024, NJTC received formal approval, and in March 2025, they won their first grant from the New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL).
Why did NJTC pursue a TAP?
By the 2024–2025 school year, NJTC had served over 15,000 students and employed more than 400 tutors. With the end of ESSER funding, NJTC identified Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) as both a workforce strategy—to train, support, and retain high-quality tutors—and as a sustainable revenue source.
Further, NJTC's tutor apprenticeship program is positioned as a pre-apprenticeship opportunity for teacher apprenticeship programs, offering a dual impact:
- Strengthening the pipeline of future teachers
- Providing immediate, high-impact interventions for students across New Jersey
How it works
The Tutor Apprenticeship Program combines three core components:
- On-the-Job Learning: Apprentices receive structured training from NJTC and their Instructional Supervisors while tutoring K–8 students in math and ELA, building both instructional skills and professional workplace competencies.
- Related Technical Instruction (RTI): Apprentices complete coursework from our approved partners focused on pedagogy, equity in education, and student engagement strategies, aligned to national tutoring standards. Through higher education partners, apprentices are also able to earn credit for their work based learning.
- Mentorship and Support: Apprentices are paired with experienced educators and program managers from NJTC who provide coaching, feedback, and professional guidance.
How it is funded
NJTC uses a three-pronged financial approach:
- Fees for Service: Partnering with schools and districts to deliver high-impact tutoring.
- Grants: Leveraging federal and state apprenticeship funding, including the NJDOL GAINS grant for related technical instruction, program management, and training costs.
- Philanthropy: Supplementing programming costs and expanding access through private and foundation support.
NJTC is also applying for pre-apprenticeship funding and exploring whether Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds can support apprentices.
Progress to date
- May 2023: Met and cultivated a relationship with NJ ATR; shared the components of our program and how they aligned with the apprenticeship workforce model. Worked closely with our ATR to learn and complete all materials.
- December 2023: Submitted apprenticeship application with NJ ATR support.
- February 2024: Officially approved as a Registered Tutor Apprenticeship Program.
- March 2025: Secured NJDOL GAINS grant.
- Fall 2025: Enrolled the first cohort of 40 tutor apprentices across New Jersey.
Lessons learned
- Strong partnerships are essential: Collaboration with NJDOL, districts, and higher education institutions accelerates program success.
- Clear pathways matter: Tutors see the value of RAPs when they understand the financial incentives and the skill outcomes from the program. Additionally, when connected to teacher apprenticeships, they understand that they have multiple career options.
- Funding diversity is key: Balancing grants, service contracts, and philanthropy ensures sustainability.
- Quality coaching drives impact: Apprentices who receive consistent mentorship show higher tutor performance and persistence in the program.
- Communication with stakeholders builds trust: Clear articulation of program benefits to tutors, schools, and partners supports recruitment, retention, and overall programming success.