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

•  Summary Chart: Teacher Preparation Programs 
•  Flowchart: Employee Career Pathway to Become a Teacher in MCPS
•  Professional Development Schools 
•  MCPS Higher Education Partnerships: Top 5 Things to Know

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. 

• 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)
• Moreland University TEACH-NOW Program
• Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU)
• Towson University Towson Tigers Teachers Program
• Towson University Master of Arts in Teaching for Special Education (MAT) 
• University of Maryland Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE)
• 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.

• Bowie State University Master of Education in Reading
• 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
• Towson University Master of Education in Special Education (M.Ed)- focus on Multilingual Learners
• 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

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 Ramey, Brittany_E_Ramey@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: 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 Ramey, Brittany_E_Ramey@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 Ramey, Brittany_E_Ramey@mcpsmd.org  or Dr. Zeporia Smith, CREATETeacherCohort@montgomerycollege.edu

Program Website: MC CREATE
Deadline: Accepting Applications 

Moreland University TEACH NOW Program

Certification Area: Licensure area supported and approved based on teaching assignment
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 24 graduate credits
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Ramey, Brittany_E_Ramey@mcpsmd.org or admissions@moreland.edu

Program Website: Moreland University TEACH NOW 
Deadline: Accepting Applications; rolling bi-weekly start dates 

Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU)

Certification Area: Bachelors- Special Education and TESOL; Graduate- World Languages, TESOL, Secondary Math and Science, Special Education
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 Ramey, Brittany_E_Ramey@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 Tiger Teachers Program

Certification Area: Elementary Education and Special Education (Dual Certification)

Eligibility: Employees interested in earning their bachelor's degree in elementary education (grades 1-6) and 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: 3 years – part time program
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Program Contacts: (MCPS) Brittany Ramey, Brittany_E_Ramey@mcpsmd.org  or (TU) Jennifer Schnur, jschnur@towson.edu

Program Website: B.S. in Elementary Education/Special Education (part-time for MCPS staff)
Deadline: Accepting Applications for Fall 2025 Cohort (with Summer 2025 start date)

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 Ramey, Brittany_E_Ramey@mcpsmd.org  or (TU) Eric Kuhn, epkuhn@towson.edu

Program Website: TU MAT in Special Education at USG
Deadline: Accepting Applications for Fall 2025 Cohort

University of Maryland Creative Initiatives in Teacher Education (CITE)

Certification Area: Elementary Education—general education grades 1-6
Eligibility: Conditionally certified teachers and 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 Ramey, Brittany_E_Ramey@mcpsmd.org  or (UMD) Theresa Robinson, tnebrob1@umd.edu and Carolina Napp-Avelli, cnapp@umd.edu

Program Website: UMD CITE (UMD CITE FAQ 2025 and UMD CITE Brochure)
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 Ramey, Brittany_E_Ramey@mcpsmd.org  or (UMBC), or Mary Tabaa, tabaa@umbc.edu 

Program Website: UMBC TESOL
Deadline: Accepting applications

  Partnerships for Continuing Education and Graduate Certificates