Partnership to help dual credit teachers obtain credentials
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) – The Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis is partnering with the Indiana Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and Carmel-based nonprofit INvestEd to help meet the need for qualified teachers to deliver dual-credit coursework in K-12 schools. Teach Dual Credit Indiana intends to help ensure that Indiana high school teachers are equipped and qualified to teach dual credit courses.
INvestEd is providing a $3 million grant for Hoosier teachers to earn the required credits, up to 18 in total.
Beginning in September 2023, high school educators who teach dual credit courses are required to have a master’s degree and at least 18 credit hours of instruction in the subject they teach. The credentialing rules were put into place by HLC. Earlier this year, a one-year extension was granted from HLC for Indiana teachers to meet the requirements.
The university says the grant could fully qualify between 200 and 700 teachers. There are currently more than 560 Indiana teachers who have master’s degrees but lack the 18 hours.
“Ensuring student success in post-secondary endeavors, particularly when those are collegiate aspirations, has been central to our Early College and STEM Teach work,” said Carey Dahncke, executive director of the UIndy Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL). “With the looming shortage of qualified teachers to deliver dual credit course work in Indiana’s K-12 schools – Teach Dual Credit Indiana is desperately needed. Soon teachers across the state will have access to graduate education opportunities at a wide range of Hoosier universities to ensure we have enough secondary teachers that meet the Higher Learning Commission’s requirements for teaching dual credit courses in Indiana’s high schools.”
The university says CELL will administer the program, which includes providing funding to postsecondary institutions for tuition and books for teachers seeking to fulfill dual credit credentialing requirements.
“Hoosier students who have the opportunity to take dual credit courses in high school go to college at higher rates are more likely to succeed in college and to graduate on time, saving students and families time and money,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “Ensuring all students in Indiana have access to dual credit courses taught by credentialed teachers can also help close the state’s educational opportunity gaps, as the benefits of dual credit are seen across all races, ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses.”
CELL is encouraging post-secondary institutions to submit proposals to offer courses through Teach Dual Credit Indiana. The university says tuition for courses, books and materials will be provided at no cost to dual credit teachers employed at Indiana public, charter and accredited private schools.
The university says courses will be offered in the winter, spring and summer of 2021.
Teachers with a master’s degree who need credits can learn more about grants and post-secondary institutions by clicking here.