Valley community colleges tackle teacher shortage with affordable degrees
May 8
Maricopa County Community College (MCCCD) is tackling the state’s teacher shortage by offering scholarships and affordable bachelors degrees in education.
The shortage of educators leaves students across Arizona to be taught by substitute teachers or teachers who aren’t state certified.
“If we want Arizona’s K-12 students to learn the essential skills needed for college and career readiness, our classrooms will need well-trained teachers,” MCCCD chancellor Steven Gonzales said in a press release “By providing affordable, high-quality bachelor’s degree programs, we’re helping close a critical workforce gap so that every child has access to the exceptional educators they deserve.”
Last year, more than 25% teacher positions remained unfilled, and more than 52% were filled with underqualified teachers.
Since July 2025, more than 1,000 teachers have fled the education field, while 4,000 of those open positions are filled temporarily. Educators leave the profession due to low pay and burnout, according to education leaders.
The cost of a bachelor’s degree at a traditional four-year public university may not be worth pursuing a degree in education, especially due to low teacher wages. But MCCCD wants to change that by offering affordable bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education – Dual Language and Elementary Education and Special Education.
Students can become qualified teachers without taking on large amounts of debt. This year, more than 2,000 students enrolled into education-focused bachelor’s degree programs.
How does MCCCD help students interested in becoming teachers?
Gabriel Relf received his bachelor’s degree at Rio Salado College and is a fifth-grade teacher at Madrid Neighborhood School in the west Valley.
“College being affordable for teachers makes a huge difference,” Relf said.
Additionally, Arizona expanded access by offering scholarships through Arizona Teachers Academy, which allowed community college students to apply. Scholarship recipients are required to commit to teaching in Arizona public schools a year after graduation.
MCCCD continues to break down barriers for those interested in teaching and for students like Relf, it can mean all the difference.
“If I hadn’t had the opportunity to attend Rio, I definitely wouldn’t be in the classroom right now,” Relf continued. “But because Maricopa Community Colleges offered the four-year degree at such an affordable price, I believe that many more teachers could make that decision if they knew it was possible.”
Reporting by “Arizona Horizon” Education Solutions Reporter Roxanne De La Rosa. Her role is made possible through grant funding from the Arizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund and Report for America.
