Innovative Solutions for Teacher Shortages: San Jacinto College’s Early Childhood Bachelor’s Program

2025
San Jacinto College
https://www.sanjac.edu/
TexasShelley Rinehart
Regional Significance and Labor Market Alignment, Employer Partnerships and Collaborations, Equitable Access and Outcomes
In an effort to address the teacher shortages with our local partner ISD’s and early learning centers, San Jacinto College developed a uniquely designed Bachelor of Applied Science degree with an emphasis in early childhood. This program is built to include industry recognized certificates that stack into the Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood that then stacks into the Bachelor’s degree. This non-traditional model will include a “teacher in training” apprenticeship program allowing students the ability to receive credit while still working in the school and earn a living wage rather than having to quit their job to complete an internship. Come learn about the development and launch of this non-traditional teacher pathway that has been supported by grant dollars with scholarships available for students to graduate debt-free.
Teacher Shortage, Industry Certificates