WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 227
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Chapter 227
(Senate Bill 937)
AN ACT concerning
Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program – Established
FOR the purpose of establishing the Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program to provide
grants to certain local school systems for certain employees who pledge to fulfill a
certain service obligation as a full–time teacher in the State; requiring the State
Department of Education to administer the Program and to take certain actions to
develop and implement the program; establishing the eligibility for certain teacher
candidates in the Program and requiring teacher candidates to be paid a certain rate
and offered certain benefits under the Program; requiring collaboratives to take
certain actions under the Program; requiring authorizing the Governor to include a
certain an appropriation in the annual budget bill for the Program; requiring the
Department to collect and publish on its website certain data on the Program each
year; and generally relating to the Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program.
BY adding to
Article – Education
Section 18–27A–01 through 18–27A–06 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 27A.
Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program”
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Education
SUBTITLE 27A. GROW YOUR OWN EDUCATORS GRANT PROGRAM.
18–27A–01.
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(B) “COLLABORATIVE ” MEANS AN AGREEMENT O UTLINING COMMITMENTS
OF A PARTNERSHIP AMO NG:
(1) AT LEAST ONE LOCAL SC HOOL SYSTEM ;
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(2) AT LEAST ONE UNION EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIO N REPRESENTING
EMPLOYEES OF A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 6, SUBTITLE
4 OR SUBTITLE 5 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND
(3) AT LEAST ONE INSTITUT ION OF HIGHER EDUCAT ION WITH A
TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM AP PROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT .
(C) “ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO:
(1) IS EMPLOYED AS A NONC ERTIFIED EDUCATION S UPPORT
PROFESSIONAL BY A PA RTICIPATING LOCAL SC HOOL SYSTEM ; AND
(2) MEETS THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS DETERMI NED BY A
COLLABORATIVE .
(D) (C) “NONCERTIFIED EDUCATIO N SUPPORT PROFESSION AL” MEANS A
NONCERTIFIED PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE DESI GNATED AS PART OF A BARGAINING
UNIT UNDER TITLE 6, SUBTITLE 5 OF THIS ARTICLE.
(E) (D) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE GROW YOUR OWN EDUCATORS GRANT
PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER THIS SUBTITLE .
(E) “PROVISIONAL TEACHER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED BY A
LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM THROUGH A PROVISIONA L CONTRACT AS A COND ITIONAL
TEACHER.
18–27A–02.
(A) THERE IS A GROW YOUR OWN EDUCATORS GRANT PROGRAM.
(B) (1) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO:
(I) ARE INTERESTED IN PUR SUING A CAREER IN TH E TEACHING
PROFESSION; AND
(II) ULTIMATELY PLEDGE TO FULFILL A SERVICE OB LIGATION
AS A TEACHER EMPLOYE D FULL–TIME IN A HIGH–NEEDS SCHOOL , GRADE LEVEL, OR
CONTENT AREA IN THE STATE IN WHICH THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF TEA CHERS, AS
IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT .
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE PROGRAM.
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 227
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(C) (1) TO SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , TO BE
ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM, A TEACHER CANDIDATE APPLICANT SHALL :
(1) (I) BE EMPLOYED AS A NONC ERTIFIED EDUCATION S UPPORT
PROFESSIONAL OR PROVISIONAL TEACH ER BY A PARTICIPATING L OCAL SCHOOL
SYSTEM ON THE EFFECT IVE DATE OF THE PROGRAM; AND
(2) (II) MEET THE EDUCATIONAL REQU IREMENTS DETERMINED BY
A COLLABORATIVE .
(2) NOT MORE THAN ONE QUA RTER OF THE FUNDS US ED TO SUPPORT
TEACHING CANDIDATE A PPLICANTS MAY BE USE D TO SUPPORT TEACHIN G
CANDIDATE APPLICANTS WHO ARE PROVISIONAL TEACHERS.
18–27A–03.
(A) A COLLABORATIVE SHALL NEGOTIATE AN AGREEME NT THAT MEETS
THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION.
(B) A COLLABORATIVE SHALL DEVELOP AND SUBMIT T O THE DEPARTMENT :
(1) A PLAN TO:
(I) SELECT AT LEAST ONE C ONTENT AREA IN THE L OCAL
SCHOOL SYSTEM IN WHICH THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF TEA CHERS, AS IDENTIFIED BY
THE DEPARTMENT ;
(II) SELECT AT LEAST ONE T EACHER PREPARATION P ROGRAM
AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THA T SATISFIES THE TRAI NING
REQUIREMENTS FOR TEA CHER CANDIDATES ; AND
(III) DESIGNATE AN INDIVIDUA L FROM A COLLABORATI VE TO
ASSIST TEACHER CANDI DATES AND PROVIDE PROGRAM GUIDANCE ;
(2) AN ESTIMATE OF THE NU MBERS OF:
(I) TEACHER APPLICANTS LI KELY TO COMPLETE THE
PROGRAM WHO ARE NONCERTIFICA TED EDUCATION SUPPOR T PROFESSIONALS ;
AND
(II) TEACHER APPLICANTS LI KELY TO COMPLETE THE
PROGRAM WHO ARE PROVI SIONAL TEACHERS ; AND
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(III) MENTOR TEACHERS NECES SARY TO SUPPORT TEAC HER
CANDIDATES IN THE PROGRAM; AND
(3) EVIDENCE OF A WRITTEN BILLING AGREEMENT WI TH AN
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THA T INCLUDES:
(I) THE TOTAL COST TO THE COLLABORATIVE FOR TH E
COHORT OF TEACHER CA NDIDATES;
(II) PRORATED TUITION COST THE COLLABORATIVE SH ALL PAY
THE INSTITUTION OF H IGHER EDUCATION IF A CANDIDATE DOES NOT C OMPLETE
THE PROGRAM; AND
(III) A PROVISION THAT NO TE ACHER CANDIDATE SHAL L BE
REQUIRED TO PAY TUIT ION, BOOKS, OR FEES AS PART OF T HE TEACHER
CANDIDATE’S COURSE OF STUDY .
(C) A COLLABORATIVE SHALL DEVELOP AND SUBMIT T O THE DEPARTMENT :
(1) AN OUTREACH PLAN TO R ECRUIT TEACHER CANDIDATES A ND
MENTOR TEACHERS THAT :
(I) PRIORITIZES RACIAL AND LINGUISTI C DIVERSITY OF THE
NONCERTIFIED EDUCATI ON SUPPORT PROFESSIO NAL WORKFORCE CANDIDATES
AND MENTOR TEACHERS WITH LINGUISTIC DIVE RSITY AND FROM RACIA L AND
ETHNIC GROUPS HISTOR ICALLY UNDERREPRESENT ED IN THE TEACHING
PROFESSION;
(II) ESTIMATES PROGRAM EXPENSES BY C ATEGORY, KEEPING
PROGRAM EXPENSES REL ATED TO PROVISIONAL TEACHERS AT OR BELOW ONE
QUARTER OF TOTAL EXP ENSES; AND
(III) IDENTIFIES AT LEAST O NE SOURCE OF LONG –TERM
FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE PROCES S AND TIMELINE FOR
OBTAINING LONG –TERM FUNDING ; AND
(2) ANY OTHER MATERIALS R EQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT .
18–27A–04.
(A) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL AWAR D A GRANT TO A LOCAL SCHOOL
SYSTEM THAT IS PART OF A COLLABORATIVE FOR EMPL OYEES OF THE LOCAL
SCHOOL SYSTEM TO COM PLETE A TEACHER PREP ARATION PROGRAM AT A N WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 227
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INSTITUTION OF HIGHE R EDUCATION UNDER TH E AGREEMENT DESCRIBE D IN §
18–27A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE.
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL AWAR D A GRANT FOR:
(I) TUITION, BOOKS, AND FEES FOR TEACHER CANDIDATES;
(II) STIPENDS FOR MENTOR T EACHERS; AND
(III) COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION O F THE
PROGRAM.
(3) IN AWARDING A GRANT , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL TAKE
NECESSARY STEPS TO E NSURE THAT NOT MORE THAN ONE QUARTER OF EXPENSES
AWARDED IN THE GRANT GO TO SUPPORTING PRO VISIONAL TEACHER
PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM.
(4) THE DEPARTMENT , IN COLLABORATION WIT H THE MARYLAND
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, SHALL, ON REQUEST, PROVIDE TECHNICAL AS SISTANCE
TO A COLLABOR ATIVE IN OBTAINING STATE, FEDERAL, OR OTHER FUNDING FOR
THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM.
(B) A TEACHER CANDIDATE SH ALL BE PAID A RATE O F PAY AND OFFERED
BENEFITS THAT ARE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE R ATE OF PAY RECEIVED BY AND
BENEFITS OFFERED TO A NONCERTIFIED EDUCATION SUPPORT PR OFESSIONAL OR
PROVISIONAL TEACHER OF THE EQUIVALENT CL ASSIFICATION AND TEN URE IN THE
LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM PROVIDED IN THE COLL ECTIVE BARGAINING AG REEMENT.
(C) (1) A COLLABORATIVE SHALL PROVIDE EACH TEACHER CANDIDATE A
MENTOR TEACHER FO R THE ENTIRETY OF TH E PROGRAM.
(2) A TEACHER CANDIDATE MA Y NOT SERVE AS A TEA CHER OF
RECORD OR A SUBSTITU TE TEACHER FOR ANY T EACHER OTHER THAN TH E MENTOR
TEACHER ASSIGNED TO THE TEACHER CANDIDAT E.
(D) A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM AND A UNION AN EMPLOYEE ORGA NIZATION
THAT REPRESENTS THE TEACHER CANDIDATES S HALL NEGOTIATE A GRA DUAL
RELEASE MODEL THAT A LLOWS TEACHER CANDID ATES TO FOCUS PRIMAR ILY ON
INTERNSHIP AND PRACT ICUM REQUIREMENTS .
(E) (1) A TEACHER CANDIDATE SH ALL PERFORM A SERVIC E OBLIGATION
TO TEACH FULL –TIME IN THE STATE IN A PUBLIC SCH OOL OR A PUBLIC
PREKINDERGARTEN PROG RAM IN A HIGH–NEEDS SCHOOL , AS IDENTIFIED BY THE
DEPARTMENT , OR IN A GRADE LEVEL OR CONTENT AREA IN W HICH THERE IS A Ch. 227 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED EDUCATORS , AS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR A
MINIMUM OF 2 YEARS.
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETE RMINE THE LENGTH OF THE
SERVICE OBLIGATION .
18–27A–05.
BEGINNING IN FISCAL Y EAR 2026, THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE
ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIA TION OF $5,000,000 THE GOVERNOR MAY
INCLUDE IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET BILL AN APP ROPRIATION FOR THE PROGRAM.
18–27A–06.
(A) EACH YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COLL ECT AND PUBLISH ON I TS
WEBSITE:
(1) DATA ON TEACHER CANDI DATE RACE, GENDER, AND LINGUISTIC
STATUS;
(2) DATA ON TEACHER CANDI DATE STATUS AND RETE NTION;
(3) SPENDING BY CATEGORY ;
(4) A SUMMARY OF TEACHER C ANDIDATE RECRUITMENT METHODS;
AND
(5) IF APPLICABLE, THE HIRING STATUS AN D RETENTION DATA OF
PROGRAM GRADUATES .
(B) IN REPORTING THE DATA UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION ,
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE REASONABLE EFFORTS T O ANONYMIZE THE DATA
TO PROTECT THE PRIVA CY OF TEACHER CANDID ATES.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, April 25, 2024.