Richmond Public Schools to launch tuition-free program for teachers to become fully licensed
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Public Schools has announced that a new pathway program for associate teachers to become fully licensed will be formally launched later this week.
On Thursday, Aug. 7, a ceremony will be held to celebrate the first 25 members of the new SEED Associate Teacher Program -- a tuition-free pathway that will allow current RPS employees to earn a bachelor's degree in Elementary or Special Education and become fully licensed teachers by the 2027-28 school year.
This program is part of a broader SEED (Supporting and Empowering Educator Development) initiative, which aims to grow and retain high-quality educators from throughout the Richmond community.
Highlights of the program include:
- $40,000 starting salary with full RPS employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement contributions and paid sick leave
- College credit earned through on-the-job, classroom-based learning
- Personalized mentorship and coaching throughout the program
- Three-year post-certification commitment to teach in RPS
To qualify for the program, applicants must have an associate's degree or 60 or more credit hours completed from an accredited college or university. They must also provide a letter of recommendation from their current school principal or direct supervisor discussing their potential as a teacher.
The ceremony will be held at Huguenot High School, located at 7945 Forest Hills Road, from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7.
