Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Anastasios Kamoutsas, announced an additional $1.6 million in funding for the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Teacher Grant (PCOG GYO), bringing the total investment in the program to $15 million. The grant supports a no-cost teacher apprenticeship initiative aimed at strengthening the pipeline of new educators across Florida.
The PCOG GYO program is designed to provide aspiring teachers with hands-on classroom experience under the supervision of experienced educators. This approach emphasizes practical training over traditional coursework, aiming to prepare future teachers more effectively for their roles in schools throughout the state.
“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.”
This latest round of funding continues efforts initiated by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023 with the establishment of the Teacher Apprenticeship Program through HB 1035. The goal is to attract and retain high-quality teachers by providing alternative pathways into teaching.
For more information about the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Program, visit www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant.
