Education

Valencia College program will train elementary teachers amidst shortage

Central Florida Public Media | By Danielle Prieur

Published April 6, 2024 at 9:18 AM EDT

The program could graduate more than 50 teachers in the first cohort. Teachers will be certified to work in K-6 classrooms in private, public and charter schools.

Valencia College is rolling out a new elementary education program to help combat a statewide teacher shortage.

The college will offer its new elementary education bachelor of science program during the 2024-2025 school year.

The two-year program is expected to enroll about 60 students in its first year, and 120 students in its second. The goal is to keep tuition for the total program below $10,000.

Courses will be available both in person and online.

Orange County and Osceola County school districts are also working with Valencia to set up a Teacher Apprenticeship program to help paraprofessionals get a bachelor’s degree.

The list of classes students would take to complete the two-year bachelor's program.

In a letter to both districts, Valencia College President Kathleen Plinske said a statewide teacher shortage was behind the push for both programs.

Plinske hopes the program graduates over 50 new elementary school teachers in the first cohort.

During the 2021-2022 school year, University of Central Florida and Rollins graduated a combined 316 teachers.

According to the last count by the Florida Education Association, the state has a shortage of 4,000 teachers.

Here's what incoming students need to apply for Valencia's program:

Completion of an associate in arts (A.A) degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum of 60 semester hours of course work and a 2.5 overall GPA.
Completion of EDF X005 Introduction to the Teaching Profession is required.
Other Associate or higher degrees must be formally evaluated by the department for admission.