Education Boost: Maryland Awards $14.7 Million to Help School Staff Become Certified Teachers

August 19, 2026 - 19:45

Maryland is putting $14.7 million toward a new effort to help school employees become fully licensed teachers. The funding, distributed through the state's Department of Education, is aimed at local school systems that want to support paraprofessionals, aides, and other non-certified staff who are already working in classrooms. The goal is to give these workers a clear path to earn teaching credentials while they keep their current jobs.

State education leaders say the move is part of a broader strategy to address teacher shortages, especially in high-need areas like special education, math, and science. By investing in people who already know the school environment and the students, the program hopes to improve retention and reduce the time it takes to fill open positions. Many of the staff members eligible for this support have been in schools for years and have hands-on experience, but lack the formal certification required to lead a classroom on their own.

The money will cover tuition, testing fees, and other costs tied to certification programs. Local districts will decide how to structure their own training tracks, but the state expects most to partner with universities or alternative certification providers. Officials also noted that this approach can help diversify the teaching workforce, since many paraprofessionals come from the same communities where they work.

This is not the first time Maryland has tried this kind of program, but the scale of this investment is larger than previous rounds. The state is asking districts to track how many staff members actually complete certification and stay in teaching roles for at least three years. That data will help decide whether to continue or expand the funding in future budgets. For now, school systems have until early next year to apply for their share of the money.