At What Cost? Unlocking the ROI of Registered Apprenticeships for Educators

Some recent feedback we received during a workshop stuck with me: “You need to SELL this harder and really drive home ROI.” And honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s made me rethink how we frame the conversations we’re having with key stakeholders. While we’ve always focused on the long-term value that Registered Apprenticeship Programs for educators bring to education systems, maybe it’s time to really lean into the financial realities and push harder for investment in a way that’s just as urgent as it is logical.

After all, the need for solutions is so clear with just teacher turnover costing us millions of local NYS dollars each year. The Learning Policy Institute has found that teacher attrition costs U.S. public schools $8 billion annually (with nearly 50% of educators bailing within the first five years) and each teacher lost can cost anywhere from $12,000 to $25,000 to replace for the district. That’s a staggering amount of money, and it’s not just a one-time expense, it’s an ongoing drain on school budgets. We can’t afford to keep ignoring the opportunity to make a real, lasting impact. So the question is: Can we afford not to invest in a better solution?

What we also know is that two things can seriously reduce teacher turnover: more immersive preparation and building stronger support networks for new teacher. And guess what? Educator RAP checks both those boxes! RAPs for teachers can also fall under a BOCES Contract for Shared Services for component school districts and all RAPs for educator titles (teacher assistant, teacher, and school administrator) can further address costs through the SUNY Apprenticeship fund (for apprentices enrolled in a SUNY program) and HUB one-time start up funding. You can check out your district’s numbers using the ROI calculator.

Understanding the ROI Calculator for Registered Apprenticeships for Educators – Watch a quick video on how it works

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And let’s not forget, the ROI of RAPs isn’t just financial! The impact goes far beyond cost savings. When schools retain their workforces, the benefits ripple through the community in powerful ways. Long-term educators build strong relationships with students, parents, and local organizations. They bring stability to classrooms, create continuity in student learning, and foster trust and connection strengthening the entire school culture. So, here’s the bottom line: Registered Apprenticeship Programs for educators should be practically selling themselves and in many ways, they already are. Across the country, policymakers, government officials, and local partners are recognizing the long-term ROI these programs deliver. At the HUB, we’re not backing down from presenting the hard numbers, because we know the impact is undeniable.