Skip to main content

Important HEP Information 

The Office of Human Resources and Development continues to offer higher education partnership opportunities to MCPS employees who are seeking teacher certification, continuing professional development, or who are pursuing career advancement. To be eligible for any MCPS higher education partnership, one must be a permanent, benefits-eligible MCPS employee. Temporary and non-employees can explore permanent employment opportunities via MCPS Careers.

All information sessions will be offered virtually, unless otherwise noted. Please continue to review this webpage for current partnership opportunities. Details on how to register for virtual information sessions are published weekly in The Bulletin as well as the Higher Education Partnerships monthly newsletter. 

 

 

Higher Education Partnerships

The Office of Human Resources and Development works with local universities to provide tuition reimbursement and additional support at the undergraduate and graduate levels for individuals seeking teacher certification, continuing professional development, or pursuing career advancement opportunities.  Partnership programs focus on expanding the candidate pool with respect to applicants representing diverse backgrounds and systemic areas of critical need.  These programs involve extensive MCPS field experiences, supplemental training, and supervisory support by colleges, universities, and MCPS.

Partnerships are one option for employees.  Employees, in permanent, benefits-eligible positions, may also identify and pursue programs of study from accredited colleges and universities.  Employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement to support some of the tuition costs.  Details can be reviewed on the Tuition Reimbursement website.

Resources

Related Topics

 

Partnerships for Teacher Preparation

The partnerships for teacher preparation target employees, in permanent positions, who want to pursue careers in teaching.  These partnerships provide pathways for individuals to meet the requirements in the state of Maryland to earn initial teaching certification

 

Partnerships for Continuing Education and Graduate Certificates

The partnerships for continuing education and graduate certificates target employees who hold current teaching certification and who want to continue their education by pursuing post-baccalaureate certificates and/or master's degrees in content areas other than their initial certification.

 

Partnerships for School Leadership Development

The partnerships for school leadership development target employees who are experienced, tenured teachers who want to pursue school-based leadership or supervisory positions within MCPS. These partnerships offer pathways to earn a master's degree or certificate leading to Administrator I (ADMIN I) certification in Maryland. To be eligible for partnerships in school leadership, individuals should have 3 or more years of successful classroom teaching experience.

 


 

Partnerships for Teacher Preparation

 


Bowie State University--Summer Institute & Weekend College

Certification Area: Various
Eligibility: MCPS conditionally licensed teachers who are required to complete coursework for licensure
Length of Study: Accelerated coursework offered weekly during Summer 2024 and Weekends Spring 2024
Degree: N/A - coursework is eligible for graduate credit
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (BSU) Dr. Mary Young, myoung1@bowiestate.edu

Program Website: BSU Weekend College & Summer Institute

Deadline: Accepting Applications

**Note: This partnership is not a full teacher certification program, rather is for conditionally licensed teachers needing individual courses for certification. 

 


Johns Hopkins University--Special Education Teacher Immersion Training (SET-IT)

Certification Area: Special education 
Eligibility: Employees interested in earning their master’s in special education while working as a paraeducator or other permanent school-based employee are eligible for the program and, pending budget approval, are eligible for tuition reimbursement. 
Length of Study: 2-year program 
Degree: Master of Science 
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (JHU) Dr. Alexandra Shelton, ashelt18@jhu.edu

Program Website: JHU SET-IT and RISE-TC Partnership
Deadline: Accepting Applications

 


Montgomery College Alternative Certification for Effective Teaching (ACET)

Certification Area: English, secondary math, secondary science, chemistry, physics, technology education, computer science, Spanish, French
Eligibility: Permanent, temporary, and non-employees
Length of Study: 6-month teaching institute and internship + 1-year resident teaching
Degree: Non-degree--State of Maryland approved alternative certification
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (MC) Dr. Glenda Hernandez Tittle, Glenda.HernandezTittle@montgomerycollege.edu  

Program Website: MC ACET
Deadline: Accepting applications

 


Montgomery College Culturally Responsive Educators Aspiring for Teaching Excellence (CREATE)

Certification Area: Early childhood, elementary, special education, secondary math, secondary science
Eligibility: Support professionals in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent status
Length of Study: Varies – approximately 60 credits or first two years or a 4-year degree
Degree: Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) – which transfer to any state of Maryland university and many private universities
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or Dr. Zeporia Smith, CREATETeacherCohort@montgomerycollege.edu

Program Website: MC CREATE
Deadline: Accepting Applications 

 


Moreland University TEACH NOW Program

Certification Area: Various
Eligibility: MCPS conditionally licensed teachers who are required to complete coursework for licensure
Length of Study: Approximately 9 months
Degree: N/A - coursework is eligible for graduate credit
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or Marjorie Guadarrama, marjorieg@moreland.edu

Program Website: Moreland University TEACH NOW 
Deadline: Accepting Applications 

 


Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU)

Certification Area: ESOL, secondary math, computer science, Spanish
Eligibility: Support professionals in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent status
Length of Study: multiple years
Degree: Bachelor’s and  graduate alternative certification 
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or Sarah Gruen, sgruen@ndm.edu

Program Website: NDMU CAUS (Bachelors) Program and NDMU ACT (Alternative Certification) Program 
Deadline: Rolling admissions; Currently accepting applications

 


Towson University Master of Arts (MAT) in Teaching Special Education 

Certification Area: Special education
Eligibility:
Support professionals and special education conditional hires in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent status
Length of Study:
3 years – 1 course approximately every 8 weeks
Degree:
Master of Teaching (MAT)
Program Contacts:
(MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (TU) Eric Kuhn, epkuhn@towson.edu

Program Website: TU MAT in Special Education at USG
Deadline: Accepting Applications for Fall 2024 Cohort

 


University of Maryland Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE)

Certification Area: Elementary Education—general education grades 1-6--Cite candidates can choose a focus area of ESOL or special education preparing individuals to meet the diverse needs of students; however, the initial certification is general education elementary.
Eligibility: Support professionals in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent status
Length of Study: 2 years (34 credits)
Degree: Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (UMD) Theresa Robinson, tnebrob1@umd.edu and Carolina Napp-Avelli, cnapp@umd.edu

Program Website: UMD CITE (UMD CITE FAQ 2024 and UMD CITE Brochure)
Deadline: Accepting applications for Spring 2025 cohort.

 


University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)

Certification Area: computer science, mathematics, biology, chemistry, earth space science, or physics
Eligibility: Support professionals in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent status
Length of Study: multi-year; 1-2 years in the MAT program
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (UMUC) Cheri Temoney, cheri.temoney@umgc.edu

Program Website: UMGC
Program Deadline: Accepting applications 

 


University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Certification Area: TESOL
Eligibility: Support professionals in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent status
Length of Study: 2.5 years
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (UMBC), or Mary Tabaa, tabaa@umbc.edu 

Program Website: UMBC TESOL
Deadline: Accepting applications

 


 


 

  Partnerships for Continuing Education and Graduate Certificates

 


Bowie State University Masters of Education in Reading

Eligibility: MCPS employees who hold teacher certification
Length of Study: 2 years
Certification Area: This program is designed to prepare for transitioning into the role of a reading specialist and/or gain current research-based information to assist with effective literacy instruction with a particular focus on racially, culturally, linguistically and socioeconomically diverse students.
Program Requirements: Must hold a bachelors degree and be a certified teacher to be eligible for this program. 
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (BSU) Dr. Jacquelyn Sweeney, jsweeney@bowiestate.edu

Program Website: Bowie State University Reading Education program

Deadline: Accepting applications

 

McDaniel College and MCEA Equity and Excellence in Education 

Eligibility: MCPS employees who hold teacher certification.
Length of Study: 2 years
Certification Area: graduate certificate
Program Requirements: bachelors degree
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (MCPS/McDaniel) Heather Yuhaniak, Heather_E_Yuhaniak@mcpsmd.org 

Program Website: McDaniel Equity and Excellence in Education
Deadline: Recruitment begins Spring 2024 for Fall 2024 Cohorts

 


Notre Dame of Maryland University Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia

Eligibility: MCPS employees 
Length of Study: Four semesters--one course per semester
Certification Area: The program of study provides participants with the skills and methods to be effective and competent teachers of students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia and other related learning differences. 
Program Requirements: Must hold a bachelors and masters degree to be eligible for the graduate certificate from Notre Dame of Maryland University
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (NDM) Donna Schissler, dschissler@ndm.edu

Program Website: NDMU Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia

Deadline: Accepting applications

 


Towson University Master of Education in Special Education (MEd)

Eligibility: Pre-K-12 teachers certified in content areas other than special education
Length of Study: 3 years – 1 course approximately every 8 weeks
Degree: Master of Education
Certification Area: special education
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (TU) Eric Kuhn, epkuhn@towson.edu  

Program Website: Towson at USG MEd in Special Education
Deadline: Accepting applications for Fall 2024 Cohort

 

Towson University Master of Education in Special Education (MEd)- focus on Multilingual Learners

Eligibility: Teachers certified in special education and ESOL
Length of Study: 3 years – 1 course approximately every 8 weeks
Degree: Master of Education
Certification Area: special education
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (TU) Eric Kuhn, epkuhn@towson.edu  

Program Website: Towson at USG MEd in Special Education
Deadline: Accepting applications for Spring 2024 Cohort


University of Maryland Master of Education in Middle School Mathematics

Eligibility: certified elementary, middle, or special education, teachers 
Length of Study: 3 years 
Degree: Master of Education. No GRE Required.
Certification Area: Math add-on endorsement with a qualifying score on PRAXIS
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (UMD) Dr. Beatriz Quintos, bquintos@umd.edu

Program Website: UMD MEd in Middle Grades Mathematics
Deadline: Accepting Applications


University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) in TESOL

Eligibility: certified elementary, middle, or high school teachers who hold certification in content areas other than ESOL
Length of Study: 4 semesters -- Summer 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Summer 2022
Degree: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC). 
Certification Area: TESOL add-on endorsement with qualifying score on PRAXIS
Program Contact: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (UMBC) Mary Tabaa, tabaa@umbc.edu

Program Information: UMBC Post-baccalaureate Certificate in TESOL
Deadline: Accepting Applications

 


 

Partnerships for School Leadership Development

 


Hood College Educational Leadership

Eligibility: MCPS employees with 3 or more years of successful classroom teaching experience 
Length of Study: 3 years masters degree; 2 years graduate certificate
Certification Area: Administrator I
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (Hood College) Dan Shea, shea@hood.edu

Program Website: Hood College for Educational Leadership
Deadline: Accepting applications for Fall 2024 cohorts

 


McDaniel College in Curriculum and Instruction with a Leadership Focus

Eligibility: MCPS employees with 3 or more years of successful classroom teaching experience 
Length of Study: 3 years master’s degree; Administrator I Certification
Certification Area: Administrator I
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (McDaniel) Susan Flanders, gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu

Program Website: McDaniel College
Deadline: Accepting applications

 

  Contact Us 

 Brittany Mackel
 Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org

Montgomery County Public Schools
15 West Gude Drive, Suite 300
Rockville, Maryland 20850