Governor Moore Announces Grants for Maryland Institutions of Higher Learning to Help Address Teacher Shortage and Support Displaced Federal Employees
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Higher Education Commission will provide $1 million in grants to 11 colleges and universities to support new career paths for displaced federal workers. Through the Teacher Quality and Diversity Program, institutions of higher education can help federal workers secure jobs in education through targeted training, licensure support, and school district partnerships.
“Maryland is mobilizing. We refuse to stand idly by while the new federal administration fires public servants without cause and are doing everything in our power to put Marylanders first,” said Gov. Moore. “This funding helps our federal workers land on their feet, while also addressing the teacher shortage throughout our state. Together, we will continue to innovate, collaborate, and protect our people in the face of attacks from Washington.”
The governor announced the new grants during a roundtable discussion between higher education leadership and displaced federal workers enrolled in the ACET Flex: From Feds to Eds program at Montgomery College in Rockville. The discussion centered on innovative pathways to transition into careers in education through targeted retraining and certification programs, highlighting the value of federal employees’ diverse work experience and commitment to public service.
The new program advances Maryland’s mission to build a workforce that strengthens the future of education across the state. The initiative is a critical component to addressing educator shortages by expanding the pool of highly-skilled teacher candidates among public servants who may be seeking a new career path. As of mid-March, there were more than 1,600 teacher vacancies across the state of Maryland.
“Former federal employees have the skills and experience needed to provide a high-quality education and diversify our classrooms to reflect our communities,” said Maryland Higher Education Commission Secretary Dr. Sanjay Rai. “By implementing this grant program, we are helping to ease the transition into meaningful and stable careers while closing the teacher shortage.”
The program funding is the latest effort from the Moore-Miller Administration to help address Maryland’s teacher shortage. Earlier this month, Governor Moore signed The Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, which will bring more fully licensed teachers to the state through a national recruitment campaign and the Grow Your Own Educators Program, which supports debt-free pathways to obtain a teacher’s license.
Institutions receiving awards include:
- Bowie State University - “Meeting the Needs of Maryland’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students: Training Underrepresented Teachers Through BSU’s M.Ed. in ESOL Program”
- Community College of Baltimore County - “Expanding Teacher Quality and Diversity”
- Goucher College - “Enhancing Alternative Programs for In-District Pathways”
- McDaniel College - “Transition to Teach Project”
- Montgomery College - “ACET Flex: From Feds to Eds”
- Morgan State University - “Transitioning to Teaching: A Strategic Response to Both the Diverse Teacher Shortage and Employment Crisis in Maryland”
- Notre Dame University of Maryland - “Advancing Diversity and Alternative Pathways in Preparing Teachers”
- Salisbury University - “USM Consortium Alternative Certification Pathway”
- Towson University - “Imagine: A Pathway to Teaching”
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County - “Designing Excellence: A Quality Driven Approach for Real-World Educators”
- University of Maryland, College Park - “USM Consortium Alternative Pathway”
“Montgomery College was thrilled to host Governor Wes Moore, who announced a grant to help displaced federal workers transition into teaching positions in Maryland,” said Montgomery College President Dr. Jermaine Williams. “Through the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Teacher Quality and Diversity Grant, MC’s Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers program will be strengthened to facilitate degree-holding professionals who want to begin a new career sharing their knowledge and educating students in the classroom. Drawing on the talent and commitment of federal workers will empower students in Maryland to achieve even more.”
Participating institutions are creating or expanding flexible, online, and accelerated pathways to teacher licensure. Their programs are specifically designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree and bring years of professional experience, including those exiting federal service.
To learn more about the pathways to becoming a teacher in Maryland, visit teach.maryland.gov.
For more information about the Maryland Higher Education Commission, visit mhec.maryland.gov.
