Maryland Awards Grants to Support New Career Paths for Displaced Federal Workers

The state of Maryland is putting significant financial resources into its effort to help transitioning federal talent find new career opportunities in education.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore recently 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,” according to a statement from Moore’s office.

Moore shared details of the new program at a recent Montgomery College roundtable discussion involving outgoing federal employees and Maryland higher education leaders, on hand to discuss routes to careers in education for transitioning federal employees.

“The new program advances Maryland’s mission to build a workforce that strengthens the future of education across the state,” according to Moore’s office, which noted that, as of mid-March, there were more than 1,600 teacher vacancies across the state of Maryland.

Participating institutions are creating or expanding flexible, online and accelerated pathways to teacher licensure, through programs specifically designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree and bring years of professional experience, including those leaving federal service. Maryland 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”

“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, in a statement.

“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.”