On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $5 million to expand opportunities for teacher apprenticeships in Florida.

According to a press release, the funds come through the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Teacher Grant (PCOG GYO). The program aims to strengthen Florida’s teacher pipeline by creating a no-cost apprenticeship pathway for more than 200 teachers per year to become credentialed and enter the teaching profession.

“Florida is proud to offer a hands-on teacher apprenticeship program that prioritizes classroom experience over university-based learning,” said DeSantis in the press release. “As the national leader in education, we will continue to support our teachers and make sure we have high-quality educators at every school in the state.”

The University of Florida and Florida Gateway College in Lake City are two of the 10 institutions that will receive funds through the PCOG GYO in 2023-24. The other eight institutions are:

• Broward College
• Daytona State College
• Florida A&M University
• Florida SouthWestern State College
• Miami Dade College
• Rollins College
• Seminole State College
• Saint Leo University

“Governor DeSantis continues to prioritize Florida’s education system through innovative initiatives like the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Teacher Grant,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., in the press release. “This funding will allow more aspiring educators to enter into a teaching career while alleviating teacher shortages.”

Earlier this year, DeSantis signed House Bill 1035, which established the Teacher Apprenticeship Program. The Florida Department of Education also partnered with UF to establish the program’s framework before the state legislation passed so that new teachers could start entering the profession as quickly as possible.