Dive Brief:
- Maryland is providing $1 million in grants to 11 colleges and universities within the state to create or expand online programs that will allow federal employees laid off by the Trump administration to earn a teaching license. The move is part of the state’s efforts to address teacher shortages.
- The funding through Maryland’s Teacher Quality and Diversity Program offers former federal workers with bachelor’s degrees the opportunity to work in education through targeted training and school district partnerships, according to a May 27 announcement from Gov. Wes Moore.
- As of mid-March, Maryland had more than 1,600 teacher vacancies statewide, according to the announcement.
Dive Insight:
Maryland’s targeted funding boost to address teacher shortages follows the U.S. Department of Education’s move earlier this year to cancel $600 million in federal funds for “divisive” teacher preparation grants under the Teacher Quality Partnership Program and the Supporting Effective Educator Development program.
Advocates for the teacher preparation grants said the funding helped to address teacher shortages nationwide through grow-your-own programs and other initiatives.
Lawsuits spearheaded by teacher preparation groups and eight Democratic attorneys general challenged the cuts. In April, however, the U.S. Supreme Court said the Trump administration could maintain a freeze on the funds while the matter advances in the courts.
In May, Moore signed the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, which aims to address the state’s teacher shortage by producing fully licensed teachers through a national recruitment campaign. The new law also bolsters the state’s Grow Your Own Educators Program to support aspiring teachers in obtaining a license through a debt-free pathway.
The announcement to fund training for former federal workers to become teachers said the initiative highlights “the value of federal employees’ diverse work experience and commitment to public service.”
“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,” Moore said in the May 27 announcement. “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.”
While the debate over the extent of teacher shortages nationwide continues, research has highlighted concerns with the quality of some educators entering the profession. During the 2024-25 school year alone, there were 400,000 underqualified educators hired in districts throughout the U.S., and there were at least 49,000 vacant teaching positions, according to a project from researchers at the University of Missouri, University of Pittsburgh and elsewhere.
As states and districts navigate their own solutions to improving the recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers, experts say it’s crucial that any initiatives offer in-classroom experience under the mentorship of a veteran teacher. They have also promoted grow-your-own programs and registered teacher apprenticeships as a way to reduce barriers by paying aspiring teachers for on-the-job training and covering the costs of their degree or certification.
