SANTA ROSA, Calif.–Community First Credit Union here is offering low-interest loans to people enrolled in a new program aimed at addressing teacher shortages in Sonoma County.
The credit union said it has partnered with the Sonoma County Office of Education, which recently launched a teacher credentialing program aimed at moving teachers into the classroom more quickly. CFCU said it will loan the future teachers up to $8,500 at a fixed 4.29% APR to cover nearly all of their tuition costs at the North Coast School of Education.
To date, 34 people are enrolled in the teacher program, which offers a different path than that of full-time university credential candidates, who must complete field work as student teachers before starting internships. Through the program, students with a bachelor’s degree are able to take on a teaching job after completing 160 hours of coursework and passing state standardized tests for educators, according to the Press Democrat.