Maricopa Community Colleges applauds Senate Education Committee Chairman David Farnsworth (District 10, Mesa) and committee members who successfully passed SB1247 out of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The bill would allow students enrolled in community college education-focused baccalaureate degree programs to participate in the Arizona Teachers Academy. SB1247 is the first step in recognizing Arizona’s community colleges' contributions to finding solutions to the state’s K-12 teacher shortage.
“Educators are the backbone of our schools, without their hard work and commitment, our education system falls short of its true potential," said Chairman Farnsworth. "By expanding access to the Arizona Teachers Academy, we can help alleviate the teacher shortage and provide a better education to students in Arizona for generations to come."
Why It Matters
The Arizona Teachers Academy was established in 2018 to address the teacher shortage by paying tuition for students who commit to teaching in Arizona public schools after graduation. Currently, only university students and community college post-baccalaureate students are eligible to participate.
The legislature authorized community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in 2021. In fall 2023, Maricopa Community Colleges launched the Bachelor of Elementary Education and Special Education, available at Glendale Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, and Rio Salado College, and Bachelor of Early Childhood Education—Dual Language at Mesa Community College. Additionally, Northland Pioneer College offers a Bachelor of Elementary Education, and Pima Community College plans to introduce one soon.
More than 3,700 students are entering education-focused bachelor's degree programs across Maricopa Community Colleges; however, the Arizona Teachers Academy scholarship is not currently available due to a technicality in the existing law. This disparity means students who choose the affordable, accessible community college bachelor’s degree pathway do not receive the same state-funded tuition support as their university peers. Community college tuition is less than one-third the cost of Arizona’s public universities’ in-state tuition. Including community college students will allow Arizona to educate far more teachers for the exact cost to the state.
As the state enters its ninth year of a teacher shortage, K-12 classrooms continue to struggle to find teachers. With a limited pool of funds to support the Arizona Teachers Academy, it is more important than ever to include community colleges for their ability to provide high-quality education and affordable pathways.
“Teachers play a critical role not only in educating the next generation of learners but also in mentoring and guiding students beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor. “Community college students have the same desire—to serve their community as pillars of knowledge. By expanding access to the Arizona Teachers Academy, we can help combat the dire teacher shortage. On behalf of the system, I thank Senator Farnsworth for helping move this important legislation forward.”
What’s Next
After SB1247 passes out of the Rules Committee, the bill will go before all 30 of the state’s senators, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of the Arizona Teachers Academy scholarship.