Indiana Just Slashed Dozens of Teaching Degrees — Could This Push the Teacher Shortage Into Crisis?
Indiana’s higher education landscape has just undergone a major shake-up — and it’s sparking heated debates among educators, parents, and policymakers. A new state law has forced public universities to cut or merge 86 degree programs, including 71 in education. Supporters argue it’s about efficiency and focusing on student demand. Critics warn it’s a move that could cripple teacher recruitment, particularly in rural parts of the state and in fields that desperately need qualified professionals.
But here’s where it gets controversial — many of these cuts hit special education, already the profession facing the steepest shortage in Indiana and across the country.
How the Law Works — And Why It Matters
Effective July 1, Indiana’s law requires any public university degree program with enrollment below a certain threshold to seek approval from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to continue. Instead of waiting, six universities proactively eliminated or consolidated hundreds of programs, including more than a dozen master’s in teaching degrees.
This decision comes at a troubling time: in August alone, Indiana’s job board listed nearly 1,300 unfilled teaching positions. For special education — the subject area with the most severe teacher gap nationally — there were about 290 open positions, second only to early childhood education.
Keith Gambill, president of the Indiana State Teachers Association, called the cuts “alarming,” warning they restrict opportunities for Hoosiers who want to teach. His concern is simple — fewer degree programs means fewer pathways into teaching, which could shrink the pipeline of qualified educators.
Special Education: The Hardest Hit
For families with children who have learning differences, special education programs are more than academic pathways — they’re lifelines. Federal law guarantees these students access to specialized instruction, but finding certified special educators is already a challenge. Now, with five master’s programs in special education cut or merged, that challenge could grow even steeper.
Jamie Sellhorn, a middle school special education teacher at Fortune Academy, sees the problem firsthand. Her school caters to students with unique learning needs, many of whom enroll because public schools lack resources or understanding. Sellhorn believes reducing degree options means "we’re moving in the wrong direction" — fewer trained specialists could mean more families unable to find adequate support.
Kelly Thompson’s story illustrates the stakes. Her daughter Meadow has multiple learning differences, and after years in a public school where teachers struggled to meet her needs, Thompson moved her to Fortune Academy. The change was life-changing. Thompson fears program cuts will rob future families of that kind of transformation.
Sarah Hurwitz, a special education professor at Indiana University, echoes the concern. Her advanced degrees allowed her to research and share evidence-based practices with other educators. If doctoral research programs disappear or merge away their focus, Indiana risks losing expertise that directly impacts classroom success.
Rural Communities Could Face Extra Strain
The ripple effect isn’t confined to special education. Rachel Hathaway of Teach Plus Indiana points out that rural areas could lose out completely. For aspiring teachers who live hours from the nearest qualifying university program, these cuts mean added travel costs or moving away — many never return after graduating.
Preparation quality is also at risk. Data shows teachers who skip thorough training are two to three times more likely to leave the profession early. Without strong programs nearby, rural districts may struggle to recruit well-prepared educators.
Advanced Degrees: Less Incentive, Less Enrollment
38 of the education programs eliminated were master’s or doctoral degrees. In the past, earning an advanced degree meant a guaranteed pay bump. Changes to teacher compensation since 2011 have reduced that incentive, with higher wages now dependent on district-level bargaining. Without financial motivation, fewer teachers may pursue the degrees that deepen expertise.
Is the Problem Low Enrollment — Or Low Appeal?
Some educators argue the cuts simply reflect declining interest in teaching degrees. Haleigh Karr, a new middle school teacher, believes poor pay, limited career growth, and increasing political pressure make teaching unattractive. She described classmates dropping out during their student teaching due to the stress and difficulty.
Political tensions amplify the problem — social media campaigns targeting educators and the state’s “Eyes on Education” initiative have made some teachers feel constantly under attack. The result? Even fewer people want to join the profession.
Nationwide, teaching numbers have fallen to a 50-year low. Teachers like Sellhorn point to heavier workloads, stricter standards, and stagnant pay as deterrents. Without big investments in recruiting, training, and supporting new educators, critics fear the cuts could be the tipping point.
And this is the part most people miss — the loss isn’t just about fewer programs today; it’s about the long-term erosion of the teaching profession’s infrastructure.
The Big Question for Indiana
If cutting degree programs meets a short-term efficiency goal but accelerates the teacher shortage, is it really worth it? Is the state addressing the root causes of low enrollment — or simply eliminating options that might be essential for recovery?
What do you think? Should Indiana focus on trimming under-enrolled programs for efficiency, or invest in expanding education degrees to tackle the shortage head-on? Drop your thoughts in the comments — especially if you’ve been directly affected by these cuts.
