Education programs at Ivy Tech provide multiple pathways to teaching

Despite its critical importance, early childhood education continues to face workforce challenges in Indiana and across the country, with the primary issue being the ability to recruit, retain, and compensate qualified teachers and caregivers.  

It's part of the reason why Ivy Tech was awarded nearly $22 million by the Lilly Endowment in 2024 to strengthen Indiana's early childhood education workforce. One of the goals of the award is to improve access to high-quality postsecondary education and training for current and future early childhood education professionals. The grant is also helping to build pathways from high school with additional programs for apprenticeships and new micro-credentials to expand access and further professionalize the career field. 

The micro-credentials are offered in four-week trainings, available mainly online but a few are in-person, that can be immediately applicable in the workplace or stacked with other credentials for those who want to pursue more education. The trainings focus on topics including health, safety and nutrition skills, early literacy and early mathematics. The micro-credentials are yet another way Ivy Tech is building up the critically important field of early childhood education. 

Research suggests that participation in early childhood education leads to statistically significant reductions in special education placement and grade retention, and increases high school graduation rates.  

In 2026, more than 1,200 students were enrolled in the early childhood education program statewide and 545 degrees and certificates were awarded. That progress will hopefully continue to grow and expand across Indiana.  

"Ivy Tech is a special place for a student who wants to be in the early childhood environment," says Katy New, Instructor and Assistant Department Chair, Early Childhood Education at Ivy Tech Bloomington and alumna of the early childhood program at Ivy Tech. "We care about flexibility for our many working students. We primarily offer courses in the evenings and online."  

 Another Ivy Tech alumna, Emma Dragoo, who is now the Assistant Director of Childcare Resources for By5 (Muncie), echoes Katy's perspective.  

"Early childhood education is critically important for kids," says Emma. "Helping ensure that students who follow this path understand its importance and have access to high-quality education is critical." 

"Kids have so many special moments of discovery in early childhood," adds Abby Noblitt, adjunct faculty member in Early Childhood Education in Terre Haute and alumna of Ivy Tech's program. "Early childhood education is a unique education opportunity because care is so immersive and hands-on. It's the perfect field to make a difference." 

"We either build more daycare facilities or more prisons," says Erin Donovan, Dean and Professor, School of Education, Ivy Tech Community College Muncie. "That's a line I sometimes deliver to my new Ivy Tech early childhood education students to help them understand how important the first five years are for the development of healthy and successful kids." 

Elementary and Secondary Education Programs 

Early childhood education isn't the only program under the School of Arts, Sciences and Education at Ivy Tech. Another area where the College is helping to fill a need is through its elementary and secondary education programs.  

The teacher shortage across the country is well-documented, and in Indiana, the state faced more than 1,000 unfilled teaching positions last year.   

Ivy Tech is helping to fill the gaps by providing certificates and associate degree paths in elementary, special, and secondary education. The degrees allow students to pursue further education training with a bachelor's degree or to become a substitute or teaching assistant.  

Last school year there were just over 1,100 students enrolled in elementary and special education programs and 360 students in secondary education programs.  

The introduction of the Secondary Education English Transfer Single Articulation Pathway (TSAP) and Secondary Education Social Studies TSAP degrees contributed to more than 50% growth in the programs. 

Elementary education associate degree student, Ashley Holder, says that Ivy Tech's affordability and welcoming environment make it an easy decision for someone who wants to teach.  

"You can save a lot of money by starting at Ivy Tech," says Ashley. "We all want our kids to have a good teacher, but so few people want their kids to actually be a teacher."  

She adds that it's often because of teacher pay, but if you can reduce how much it costs to get the degree, you can pursue this career path with more certainty. 

Recent associate degree in elementary education program graduate Nicole Sears agrees with Ashley. She's now continuing her education at Purdue without any debt and is glad to have started at Ivy Tech.