Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has been working to ensure that it is fully staffed for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 29. One of the most significant hiring challenges has been for those who work in special education. Today, the district is announcing that it has reached an agreement with the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) on incentives for special education teachers. This agreement was ratified and signed by both parties on Wednesday, Aug. 24.

The agreement has two components:

1. A $5,000 incentive for dual-certificated general education teachers who volunteer to transfer to fill a special education vacancy.
2. A quarterly incentive for current special education teachers who become responsible for additional students as a case manager for a special education student’s Individualized Education Program plan or IEP The quarterly incentive amount is based on the number of students above the ratio a teacher becomes responsible for as the case manager. The compensation ratios range as follows:

• 1–3 students = $350
• 3–6 students = $675
• 6+ students = $1,000
  Depending on the number of students, the incentive could be as much as $4,000 per year. 

MCPS expects that the incentive for dual-certificated teachers to move into special education roles will alleviate some of the remaining 102 full- and part-time special education vacancies. Since Friday, Aug. 19, MCPS has received more than 40 responses and the district is working to determine if those transfer requests fit within the parameters of the agreement.