Montgomery County Public Schools has received a $6 million Maryland Grow Your Own Educators grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to help current school employees become fully certified teachers while continuing to work for the district.
The funding will allow MCPS to partner with Towson University, Notre Dame of Maryland University and local employee associations to create new teacher pathways for existing staff members. The effort includes a teacher apprenticeship program and degree pathways that combine paid classroom experience with coursework.
The goal is to remove common barriers that prevent school staff from earning teaching credentials. The program will cover tuition, fees, books and testing costs, while participants keep their current pay and benefits. Classes will be offered through flexible online or hybrid schedules, along with classroom training and coaching.
Over the course of the grant, MCPS expects the program to help 164 employees move into high-demand teaching roles, including special education, elementary education, math and science. The district also hopes the effort will help diversify its teacher workforce by opening new opportunities for support staff, temporary teachers and men, who are underrepresented in the teaching field.
Additional information about the Maryland Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program, can be found on the Maryland Public Schools website.
