Maryland State Department of Education Creates New Model for Recruiting and Training Teachers

Maryland State Department of Education Creates New Model for
Recruiting and Training Teachers

Nearly $2 million grant from USDE and partnerships with universities and local school system create blueprint for success

For immediate release: February 12, 2003
UMUC Contact:Andrea C. Martino, Director, Public Relations
MSDE contact: Linda Bazerjian, 410-767-0488

BALTIMORE—Officials at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) are banking on a new model—Maryland’s Alternative Routes to Certification Options or MARCO—to tackle the teacher shortage in Maryland. MSDE received a competitive “Transition to Teaching” grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will provide nearly $2 million over five years to create innovative alternative ways to recruit and train highly qualified mid-career changers and recent college graduates, especially to high-need schools.

The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) developed MARCO in conjunction with MSDE’s Division of Certification and Accreditation. The first test of the MARCO model will be MARCO-Prince George’s and is a collaboration between Prince George’s County Public Schools, UMUC, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). The initiative was announced today at a joint press conference at Mary Harris “Mother” Jones Elementary School in Adelphi.

“We know that there is not a one-size fits all model; however, the state must take a leadership role in streamlining the teacher certification process without sacrificing quality,” said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick. “The MARCO model allows us to establish a comprehensive program for teacher recruitment and development that is successfully used in a large, high-need local system, such as Prince George’s County Public Schools, and translate that model statewide on an as-needed basis.”

"I'm excited that we're part of this ground-breaking alternative certification program that MSDE, UMUC, and UMBC are undertaking,” commented Iris T. Metts, Chief Executive Officer of Prince George’s County Public Schools. “It will provide an additional resource for recruiting high-quality teachers in critical subject areas throughout our system."

Partnership includes online learning opportunity

Maryland already offers one non-traditional route to teacher certification, the Resident Teacher Certification (RTC) program, which has been used in Baltimore City and Prince George’s and Howard counties. MARCO differs from other RTC programs because it partners the State Department of Education, two higher education institutions, and a local school system in a unique system of delivery of services. For instance, UMUC provides online coursework to MARCO participants. Those who complete it will receive nine graduate credit hours that may be rolled into a master’s degree either at UMUC or UMBC. Forty candidates began the program in late January. MARCO teachers may continue in an online master’s program at UMUC or transfer credit into a master’s level program at UMBC where they will participate in face-to-face classroom coursework. This program offers a flexibility that was never before available in obtaining teacher certification.

“UMUC’s student body, the second largest in Maryland, is comprised overwhelmingly of full-time working adults,” said UMUC President Gerald Heeger, “and our expertise in online education is increasingly popular as a convenient way for students worldwide to balance work and family responsibilities. That should prove key to attracting new teachers from outside Maryland.”

Global recruiting

MSDE chose UMUC as a MARCO partner because of the university’s history as the largest provider of higher education to the U.S. military worldwide. Dr. Heeger added that UMUC has the ability to attract retired military personnel and transitioning service men and women and their spouses to teaching careers through MARCO in Prince George’s County and statewide through the Troops to Teachers program.

Candidates will be assigned to a Prince George’s County public school during the summer school session to complete the student teaching portion of their assignment and will take part in intensive mentoring by a team of highly qualified mentors. MARCO participants will receive Resident Teacher Certification on the first day of school in Prince George’s County Public Schools and are guaranteed positions as teachers in the system.

Dr. Grasmick said that research has shown that a key contributing factor to teacher retention among new teachers is the quality of mentoring received during the initial years in the classroom. MARCO teachers will receive intensive mentoring for the first three years of their service.

MSDE is overseeing the project with constant communication and evaluation of all partners through its Division of Certification and Accreditation.

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