Delaware County has a severe teacher shortage. A Delaware County Community College program hopes to remedy that, writes Denali Sagner for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Teacher Education Program, which has tripled in size in three years, could be a “roadmap for the state,” say local educators.
The dual-enrollment program allows Delaware County high school students to earn up to 38 college credits at no cost if they pursue a degree in education.
The comprehensive teacher training program includes mentorship opportunities, fieldwork, and a tight-knit cohort model.
“We try to give them coursework that really helps them make a decision: who they want to teach, where they want to teach, what they want to teach,” said Jean Allison, associate professor of early childhood education at Delaware County Community College.
The future teachers are sorely needed.
This past school year, Delaware County had 99 teacher vacancies. In 2023-24, the state issued 519 emergency teaching permits, which are issued when schools cannot find fully qualified applicants.
The shortage is caused by wages not keeping pace with the cost of living and college expenses, as well as worsening working conditions, including safety concerns, classroom disruptions, and a lack of trust with parents.
Find out more about the Teacher Education Program in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
