McDaniel and Frederick County Public Schools partner to create new pathway for special education teachers

McDaniel College is partnering with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) to support the recruitment and preparation of special education teachers.

FCPS was awarded an $855,646 state grant through the Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program, providing an opportunity for school staff who are conditionally licensed to teach special education to continue working while pursuing McDaniel’s post-baccalaureate certificate in Special Education, a 29-credit program leading to either grades 1-8 or grades 6-adult licensure.

The grant covers the cost for coursework and assessments needed for full licensure.

In the school system's announcement about the grant, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson said, “In FCPS, one of our key strategic plan priorities is to hire, support and retain staff who champion individual, professional, and student excellence. I am so appreciative of this grant funding and the opportunity it will provide so many in our community to become licensed teachers.”

The Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program is designed to create debt-free pathways for non-licensed school staff to become full-time, certified teachers. The program is an expansion of the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act signed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore in May 2025 to address the teacher shortage by developing fully licensed teachers.

According to Tracey Lucas, assistant dean of Education at McDaniel, “By partnering with Frederick County Public Schools in this way, we are able to support educators who are already committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of their students achieve full licensure and help address the critical need for highly qualified special education teachers in Maryland.