Nine student-teachers have gotten a jump on their initial year in the classroom with full-time teaching positions in the Kansas City, Mo. Public schools. The district has signed the college seniors for a two-year commitment as one way of addressing a worsening teacher shortage. The interns will receive full-time pay for the two years and live rent-free their first year. Veteran teacher will also be paired with the interns, serving as mentors, and creating strong support from each other.

The program is said to have "helped attract some students who were reluctant at first to work in the district." State officials and the Missouri National Education Association support the pilot program and hope that its success will help result in expansion of the program.

Source: Manzo, Kathleen Kennedy.
Education Week. p. 5. 2 Oct 2002