In an effort to address the state’s teacher shortage, Edgewood College is launching an online program to help Wisconsin National Guard members and their spouses earn their master’s degrees and state teaching licenses.
The program allows the state's 10,000 National Guard members — including those in its Army and Air Force branches — as well as their spouses, to earn a 30-credit master’s degree for nearly half the cost as they work toward becoming fully licensed educators.
“The teacher shortage is a pressing and critical need,” said Michael Meissen, Edgewood’s senior director of education, who worked in public schools for nearly 40 years, including 14 as principal of La Follette High School. “We’re taking an all hands on deck approach to partner with any and all we can to meet the needs in the classroom.”
The partnership comes as Wisconsin schools have continued to struggle to fill teacher vacancies. For years, districts have faced historic teacher shortages, with fewer students pursuing education degrees in the U.S. and districts reporting smaller applicant pools.
In 2022, the shortage became so dire that New Mexico became the first state to activate the National Guard to teach at schools with staffing issues. Dozens of troops filled in as substitute teachers.
In Wisconsin, schools are increasingly turning to emergency licenses to get staff into classrooms, and some are using those licenses longer than what may have been intended, according to a 2023 report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
The report found the state Department of Public Instruction issued about 3,200 emergency licenses to teach in Wisconsin in the 2021-22 school year, nearly triple the 1,125 issued in the 2012-13 school year. Those types of licenses are used by teachers, counselors, social workers, librarians and school administrators who are not fully certified to teach.
The Edgewood program targets members of the armed forces who have an interest in serving youth and the community, Meissen said. Students can choose three paths to study, including elementary and secondary education as well as cross-categorical special education.
The program can be completed in 12 months, when previously it took 18 months to two years to earn the degrees, according to Edgewood College.
Wisconsin National Guard members and their spouses could help address a severe shortage of teachers, according to Edgewood College.
Meissen said Edgewood chose to partner with the National Guard because many of its members want to pursue service-oriented jobs, and others who are transitioning out of the profession may be interested in switching careers.
“The National Guard as a whole, and the Wisconsin National Guard in particular, has an extensive history of supporting and strengthening our community,” said Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general, in a prepared statement. “This partnership with Edgewood College not only aligns with that tradition, but presents an incredible opportunity for Guard members and their spouses, while at the same time addressing a critical need in schools all across Wisconsin.”
A partnership with the National Guard seemed like a good fit because there is natural crossover between the armed forces and education, Meissen said.
“(National Guard) professionals are skillful in operating within a team and are fully committed to attaining high educational outcomes,” he said. “It's a large employee base with people that would provide assets to the classroom.”
Participants of the program can complete their online courses within at least a year or up to two years, providing an expedited path to teaching. Meissen said the format is flexible, allowing students to learn at their own pace and according to their schedule.
Tuition for the program costs around $9,750, and students can enroll as soon as this spring semester.
The partnership comes after Edgewood launched a similar program last year that offers Wisconsin employees at over 20 public and private school districts an accelerated path to become certified educators. Nearly 50 students have enrolled in the program, according to Meissen.
He said he expects that number to grow because the Madison Metropolitan School District signed on to the partnership in late February.
“Our goal is to be service-oriented and meet the needs of qualified teachers across the state,” Meissen said. “We hope (the new National Guard partnership) will have a statewide reach.”
