Maryland has been awarded a three-year, $9 million federal grant to develop a statewide career exploration system serving more than 600,000 students, Gov. Wes Moore announced.
The Career Pathways Exploration grant will fund a state-owned digital platform allowing students in grades 7 through 12 to create six-year college and career plans. Students will have a digital “learner wallet” containing credentials, transcripts, skills, experiences and other records that can be shared with employers, schools and training programs.
The funding will also expand internships, registered apprenticeships, student-run businesses and other work-based learning opportunities. More than half of the $9 million will go directly to local school districts, with all Maryland school systems expected to participate by the end of the grant’s third year.
The grant runs from October 2026 through September 2029 and will be led by the Maryland State Department of Education in partnership with local school systems, employers, higher education institutions and workforce organizations.
