NH REAP: Snapshot of the NH Context
University System of New Hampshire
- 61% of the state’s college students are choosing to leave New Hampshire for college
- More students leaving their home state than almost any other state
- New Hampshire’s in-state tuition is among the highest in the country
- One of the highest average debt for students with a 4 year Bachelor’s degree in the nation
NH Fiscal Policy 2022 and InDepth 2022
- NH has the lowest funding level of the fifty states relative to personal income for state funding of public higher education
- This is a recipe for disaster for growth in all professions in the state overall.
Wallet Hub
- New Hampshire is ranked last nationally on opportunity and competition for states for teachers
- Ranked lowest for academic and work environment
A sampling of critical shortages in teachers and paraeducators across NH’s major cities/towns
- Manchester School District, 8/16/24
- Paraeducator Openings – 18
- Teacher Openings – 42
- Nashua School District, 8/16/24
- Paraeducator Openings – 71
- Teacher Openings – 47
- Rochester School District, 8/16/24
- Paraeducator Openings – 22
- Teacher Openings – 13
- Keene, 8/16/24
- Paraeducator Openings – 25
- Teacher Openings – 17
- Portsmouth, 8/16/24
- Para Openings – 11
- Teacher Openings – 2
TOTAL Across These 5 NH Cities/Towns
- Paraeducator Openings – 147
- Teacher Openings – 121
- School began 10 days later – August 26, 2024
While apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship might aid in diversifying the workforce, and “growing its own” educators, it will not change some of those factors. This is why a key need is for this initiative to have a large number of partners who will meet quarterly as a Cooperative Coordinating Council to address the system issues.
Current Success (2024)
The program is focusing on needs for licensed teachers in rural America, diversity needs to reflect the population of students, and employment needs and supports to engage veterans, new Americans, disabled, and people who are economically challenged.
There are 126 apprentices (June 2024) in the NH REAP program.
- 42% Rural
- 80% Female 20% Male
- 78% White 14% Non-White 8% Hispanic, Not White
- 67% low income
- 18% New Americans
- 16% Disabled