Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Anastasios Kamoutsas, has announced an additional $1.6 million investment in the state’s Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Teacher Grant (PCOG GYO). This brings the total funding for the program to $15 million. The grant aims to expand a no-cost teacher apprenticeship initiative statewide, with the goal of building a stronger pipeline for aspiring educators.
The PCOG GYO program provides hands-on learning opportunities for future teachers by placing them in classrooms under the mentorship of experienced educators. This approach emphasizes practical training over traditional coursework and is intended to better prepare new teachers for Florida schools.
“When we invest in future educators, we invest in the success of every classroom across Florida,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “The Grow Your Own Teacher Grant supports aspiring teachers on their path to enter the profession, ensuring Florida schools have teachers that are well prepared and committed to helping students succeed.”
The increased funding continues Florida’s focus on attracting and retaining qualified teachers, following Governor Ron DeSantis’ 2023 creation of the Teacher Apprenticeship Program through HB 1035.
Additional information about the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Program can be found at www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant.
