A bill that would expand scholarship opportunities for community college students who want to become teachers advanced at the state Senate this week.
The Arizona Teachers Academy provides scholarships for students who commit to teaching in state public schools after graduation. It was established in 2018 when community colleges did not offer bachelor’s degrees. Community colleges didn’t get the authority to offer bachelor’s degrees until 2021.
Lauren Armour is the Government Relations director the Maricopa County Community College District. She said currently, community college students who already have a bachelor’s and are just seeking a teaching certificate are eligible for the program, but those who pursue a bachelor’s degree from a community college from the start are not eligible.
“So SB 1247 allows our bachelor’s of education students to apply to receive the Arizona Teachers Academy scholarship, just like their peers at the universities,” Armour said.
Nearly 4,000 students are enrolled in Maricopa community colleges’ two bachelor’s of education programs.
“We just want them to be allowed to apply,” Armour said. “That’s critically important because with a limited pool of funds and our lowest in-county tuition, we can get up to four times as many teachers for the state investment by including Maricopa Community College students in this program.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa County Community College District.
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