Maryland School Systems Awarded $1.5 Million in Grants

BALTIMORE – The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has awarded $1.5 million in state-funded grants to local school systems through the Learning in Extended Academic Program (LEAP) and the Public School Opportunities Enhancement Professional Learning Program (PSOEPLP).

“Supporting out-of-school time programs and teacher recruitment and training is a direct approach to ensuring no Maryland student falls behind,” said Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools. “Improving these opportunities have been shown to have a positive impact on students, and puts us one-step closer to leveling the playing field.”

LEAP programs occur before school, after school, during the summer, and on Saturdays. The program received $1 million in grants aimed at improving out-of-school time opportunities. The purpose of LEAP is to provide grants to eligible schools in order to extend academic programming that has a positive impact or enriches the academic performance of students who are at risk of falling behind.

The grant provides opportunities for academic enrichment, instructional services for students who attend low-performing schools, and academic achievement in core academic subjects. This grant targets public schools in which at least 80 percent of students qualify for the free and reduced price meals program. Grants were awarded on a competitive basis in Baltimore City, Frederick County and Montgomery County.

Additionally, MSDE has awarded $500,000 to Teach for America (TFA) through the Public School Opportunities Enhancement Professional Learning Program (PSOEPLP). The purpose of the PSOEPLP is to provide grants to non-profit organizations that support existing educational programming during the school day, including the recruitment, training, and ongoing professional learning of new teachers.

The grant will enable TFA to select 125 new teachers for Maryland through rigorous recruitment efforts to provide specialized and intensive support to meet the needs of nearly 200 first and second-year teachers.

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~ Maryland Department of Education