Central Arizona College has received full approval from the Higher Learning Commission to offer a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, the first bachelor’s degree program in the college’s history. The 120-credit-hour program is scheduled to launch in Fall 2026. 

Patrick Moyer, CAC’s academic dean of arts and sciences, said the new degree reflects the college’s mission to serve the community. 

“At CAC, our commitment to Pinal County drives everything we do,” Moyer said. “We’re excited to expand our offerings with four-year and post-baccalaureate degrees designed to strengthen our local workforce and boost economic growth.” 

The new program comes as Arizona faces a persistent and deepening teacher shortage.

According to the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association, more than 25% of teaching positions statewide remain unfilled, and over half are staffed by people who do not meet full certification requirements. Rural areas, including Pinal County, have been hit particularly hard, with districts like Mammoth–San Manuel recruiting educators internationally to keep classrooms staffed. 

Arizona Superintendent Tom Horne, slated for a speaking engagement in Maricopa later this month, has described the shortage as a “potential catastrophe,” citing data that shows 8,000 teachers leave Arizona classrooms each year, while only about 1,900 new teachers enter the profession.

To combat the crisis, the state launched the Arizona Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, a pilot initiative allowing aspiring educators to earn certification through paid, mentored classroom experience. The program, supported by $1.5 million in funding from the Maricopa County Workforce Development Board, partners with several districts and charters to create a “grow your own” teacher pipeline aimed at improving retention. 

Cara Steiner, lead faculty for elementary education, said CAC’s new bachelor’s program will complement such efforts by helping to train and retain teachers locally. 

“Our new programs in elementary education address a shortage of dedicated, highly qualified teachers in Pinal County and across Arizona,” said Steiner.