Rockville, Md. — Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has received a $6 million Maryland Grow Your Own Educators grant from the Maryland State Department of Education. This funding allows the district to partner with Towson University, Notre Dame of Maryland University and local employee associations to create new pathways to help current staff members become fully certified teachers while they continue to work for MCPS.

The program focuses on finding and keeping great teachers from right here in our own community. By supporting employees who already work in our schools, the district is building a stronger future for its workforce. This plan includes a new teacher apprenticeship program and pathways to earn a degree while gaining paid experience in the classroom. This approach ensures that future teachers get the training they need without having to give up their steady paycheck.

The grant aims to remove the common obstacles that stop school staff from getting their teaching license and growing as educators. To make this possible, the program covers the full cost of tuition, fees, books and testing. Participants will keep their current pay and benefits while taking classes through flexible online or hybrid schedules. They will also receive hands-on training in the classroom and personal coaching to help them succeed.

Over the course of the grant, the program is expected to help 164 MCPS employees move into high-demand roles such as special education, elementary education, math and science. A major goal of this effort is to create a more diverse workforce by opening doors for support staff, temporary teachers and men, groups often underrepresented in the teaching field.

To learn more about the Maryland Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program, please visit the website.