Photo: William DeShazer

Faced with dire teacher shortages, several states are starting programs for aspiring educators and employing them as teacher aides while they take coursework in exchange for years of service in the classroom. Best of all, it's free. 

It's all part of a grand experiment to see what happens when the apprenticeship model—used to train generations of plumbers, electricians, and carpenters—is applied to teaching, allowing trainees to earn money while they learn their craft and earn their credentials.

The value of a college degree is a recurring topic of conversation today, with many education watchers suggesting that more attention should be on improving career readiness of graduates and making college more affordable. 

But some college leaders believe the real key is to ensure that all learners, regardless of background, emerge from college with a sense of agency and purpose that improves their well-being decades later.

Low-income students in Minnesota are calling it a life-changing moment. Last week, members of the Minnesota Senate approved a massive $4.2 billion higher education package that includes free public college tuition for students from families earning less than $80,000 a year.

Some higher education observers say free tuition will help turn around declining enrollment at state colleges and universities, address racial disparities in higher education, and build a skilled workforce.