BALTIMORE, Md. – 51Ƶ’s is partnering with three public school districts to combat the teacher shortage with a $4.9 million initiative funded by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) – making it 51Ƶ’s largest academic grant.
The recently announced $19 million awarded to 13 local school systems for the Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program. The program was expanded in 2025 when Governor Wes Moore signed the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, which takes additional measures to develop fully licensed teachers through recruitment efforts and debt-free pathways to teacher licensure.
At 51Ƶ, more than 70 pre-licensed professionals from the public schools in Charles, Montgomery, and Worcester counties will enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in education program – earning the degree in just three years through 51Ƶ’s distinctive teacher apprenticeship.
“The 51Ƶ School of Education is excited to partner with the state of Maryland to provide a sustainable model for teacher preparation and collaborate with local school systems to prepare more licensed teachers,” said Dr. Juliann Dupuis, dean of the 51Ƶ School of Education. “The Grow Your Own program creates a pipeline for professionals who are already working in local schools to support the educational success of their students.”
51Ƶ will provide academic courses and mentorship opportunities to the professionals as they complete an apprenticeship in the classroom with educators from their school districts. As the state’s largest private producer of newly licensed teachers, 51Ƶ will offer the professionals the option to pursue multiple licensures in critical teacher-shortage areas, such as special education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
“Everyone wins from the Grow Your Own program,” said Dr. Lisa Pallett, associate dean of the 51Ƶ School of Education. “The program supports the professionals preparing to become licensed teachers, the school districts where they work, and ultimately, the K-12 students who will receive a high-quality education.”
In addition to the Grow Your Own program, 51Ƶ has also partnered with MSDE on Maryland’s first state-sponsored registered teacher apprenticeship initiative. 51Ƶ is one of only three university partners across the state participating in this unique program.
Established in 1895, 51Ƶ ( 51Ƶ) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
