Quality Teacher Incentives

The 1999 and 2000 Legislative Sessions introduced and continued several exciting incentive programs to recruit and retain quality teachers for Maryland classrooms. Below are brief descriptions of incentives and contact information. The recruitment of high-quality teachers is just one facet of Marylands comprehensive school reform effort.
        

Stipends

National Board Certification:

A stipend of up to $2,000 a year is available as a dollar-for-dollar match to local school systems for teachers who earn certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

Reconstitution/Reconstitution-Eligible/Challenge School Stipend:

A $2,000 stipend is available for classroom teachers who hold an Advanced Professional Certificate and work in schools identified by the State Board of Education as challenge, reconstitution-eligible, or reconstituted schools. Teachers must also have a satisfactory performance rating.

Signing Bonus

A $1,000 bonus is available for new classroom teachers who graduate  with a grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent. Teachers must remain employed as a classroom teacher and work in the same district for a minimum of three consecutive years.

Tuition Tax Credits

All Maryland teachers are eligible for an annual $1,500 tuition tax credit designed to offset graduate tuition expenses necessary to maintain teaching certification. This tax credit was made law with Tax Article §10-717 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Reemployment of Retired Teachers and Principals

Retired teachers may be exempt from an earnings limitation if they are reemployed as classroom teachers, substitute teachers, or teacher mentors in a reconstitution-eligible school, a local school system declared a geographic shortage area, or in a subject which has been declared a critical shortage area. Also, retired principals may be exempt from an earnings limitation if they are reemployed as principals in a reconstitution-eligible school or in a local school system declared a geographic shortage area. The legislation enabling this reemployment took effect on July 1, 1999 and sunsets on June 30, 2004.

Scholarships

Distinguished Scholar Teacher Education Program
This merit-based award program, available only to Distinguished Scholar Award recipients, is designed to provide additional financial incentives to attract highly-able students to Marylands teacher preparation programs. Each Distinguished Scholar Award recipient receives $3,000 and the Distinguished Scholar Teacher Education Program increases the total award by an additional $3,000. For more information, contact the State Scholarship Administration at 410-260-4565 or 1-800-974-1024 or visit the Maryland Higher Education Commission web site at www.mhec.state.md.us.

Maryland HOPE Scholarship for Teachers
This scholarship provides awards to graduating high school seniors, undergraduate students, and graduate students who seek to become classroom teachers. Students at 2-year colleges are eligible for $2,000 annually, and students at 4-year colleges are eligible for $5,000 annually. In order to quality for the Maryland HOPE Teacher Scholarship, applicants must: hold a cumulative 3.0 GPA; be a Maryland resident; be a full-time student in an eligible teacher education program; and work as a full-time certified teacher in Maryland, one year for each year of assistance received (or pay back the scholarship money with interest). For more information, or to request an application, contact the State Scholarship Administration at 410-260-4565 or 1-800-974-1024 or visit the Maryland Higher Education Commission web site at www.mhec.state.md.us.

Local school systems can apply to receive grants to establish or expand mentoring programs that support new teachers. These funds can be used for mentor salaries, mentor and mentee training, and professional development for all new and beginning teachers. Contact your local school system to find out what teacher mentoring programs it provides.