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 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

•  Summary Chart: Teacher Preparation Programs 
•  Professional Development Schools 

Related Topics

• Career Pathways Program for Support Professionals
• Certification
• Tuition Reimbursement

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. 

• Bowie State University Summer Institute
• Johns Hopkins Special Education Teacher Immersion Training (SET-IT) 
• Montgomery College Alternative Certification for Effective Teaching (ACET)
• Montgomery College Culturally Responsive Educators Aspiring for Teaching Excellence (CREATE)
• Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU)
• Towson University Master of Arts in Teaching for Special Education (MAT) 
• University of Maryland Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE)
• University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC formerly UMUC) 
• University of Maryland Baltimore County for ESOL

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.

• McDaniel College Equity and Excellence in Education Certificate
•  Notre Dame of Maryland University - Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia
•  Towson University Master of Education in Special Education
•  University of Maryland Master of Education in Middle School Mathematics
• University of Maryland Baltimore County - Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in TESOL

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.

• Hood College Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership or Administrator I Certificate
• McDaniel College Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction for School Leadership or Administrator I Certificate

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 2023 and Weekends Fall 2022.
Degree: N/A - coursework is eligible for graduate credit
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Mackel, Brittany_E_Mackel@mcpsmd.org or (BSU) Dr. Akeda Pearson, apearsonstenbar@bowiestate.edu
Deadline: Accepting Applications

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

Certification Area: special education 
Eligibility: Accepted students, pending budget approval, will be employed as special education paraeducators during the program of study and 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 
Deadline: Accepting Applications Spring 2023

Montgomery College Alternative Certification for Effective Teaching (ACET)

Certification Area: 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) Debra Poese, debra.poese@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 professional 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 

Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU)

Certification Area: ESOL, secondary math, computer science, Spanish
Eligibility: Support professional 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
Deadline: Accepting applications

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

Certification Area: special education
Eligibility: Support professional 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 SPED at USG
Deadline: Accepting Applications for Fall 2023 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 meet the diverse needs of students; however, the initial certification is general education elementary.
Eligibility: Support professional in permanent positions of 20 hours or more and have earned permanent status
Length of Study: 2 years--6 semesters
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 and UMD CITE FAQ 2022
Deadline: Apply Now. Accepting applications for Spring 2024 cohort. 

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)

Certification Area: computer science, mathematics, biology, chemistry, earth space science, or physics
Eligibility: Support professional 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 professional 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) Dr. Mary Tabaa, tabaa@umbc.edu 

Program Website: UMBC TESOL
Deadline: Accepting applications

  Partnerships for Continuing Education and Graduate Certificates