The Higher Education Partnership Program is a learning community that fosters collaboration between institutions of higher education and MCPS to provide opportunities for the academic development of all staff, and mutually beneficial partnerships that build the capacity of MCPS and college/university staff. The mission of the program is to provide current MCPS staff and candidates seeking employment with MCPS with opportunities to further their education, extend their professional skills, conduct action research on problems of practice, engage in academic discussions, apply theoretical concepts, and increase their learning to better meet system wide priorities. There are three main higher education partnership program categories: teacher preparation, career enhancement, and leadership development. Enhancing and expanding the current partnerships is a significant long term strategy to develop teachers within MCPS through the Teacher Diversity Workforce Plan.

MCPS has several partnerships with local universities that are specifically targeted to internal employees with bachelor's degrees that are not currently certified in education. These partnerships are listed below.

MAT – Master of Art in Teaching, Special Education

MCPS partners with Towson University to prepare individuals with bachelor's degrees to become special educators. The program is designed to address MCPS special education needs in early childhood and at the elementary and secondary level. During the three-year course of study, individuals in the program work as MCPS paraeducators. Candidates who successfully complete the program graduate with a master's degree and certification in special education.

ProMAT – Professional Immersion Masters of Art in Teaching

MCPS partners with Johns Hopkins University to prepare individuals with bachelor's degrees to become teachers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) areas at secondary schools. Specific STEM areas of need are identified by MCPS. This partnership provides limited tuition support and individuals fill long-term substitute assignments during the final year of the program. Candidates who successfully complete the program graduate with a master's degree and certification in a secondary STEM content area. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates are also expected to commit to teach in MCPS for two years.

ACET – Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers

MCPS partners with Montgomery College to prepare individuals with a bachelor's degree in a high need content area to become teachers in secondary schools. The program is designed to address MCPS needs in critical shortage areas. Upon successful completion of the first semester, candidates are eligible to teach under a Resident Teacher Certificate. ACET candidates are recruited in areas such as:

• High School: Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Technology Education
• Middle School: Mathematics and Science
• World Languages: French and Spanish (placement in middle and high schools, with PreK-12 certification).

Additionally, when an external candidate applies to a teaching position and is not certified in education, there are partnerships targeted to career changers that are primarily focused on recruiting paraeducators. These partnerships are listed below.

CITE – Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education

MCPS partners with the University of Maryland College Park to prepare individuals with bachelor's degrees to become elementary teachers. This program is designed to increase the recruitment of culturally diverse interns and provide them with the knowledge and understanding to support a multicultural student population. During the two-year course of study, individuals in the program work as MCPS paraeducators. Candidates who successfully complete this program graduate with a master's degree and elementary certification.

SET-IT – Special Education Teacher Immersion Training

MCPS partners with Johns Hopkins University to prepare individuals with bachelor's degrees to become special education teachers with a concentration in mild to moderate disabilities. During the two year course of study, individuals in the program work as MCPS paraeducators. Candidates who successfully complete the program graduate with a master's degree and certification in special education.