Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Anastasios Kamoutsas, has announced an additional $1.6 million in funding for the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Teacher Grant (PCOG GYO). This new investment brings the state’s total allocation to the program to $15 million. The grant is designed to expand Florida’s no-cost teacher apprenticeship program and aims to strengthen the pipeline of future educators by providing practical training opportunities.
The PCOG GYO program offers an immersive, hands-on approach for aspiring teachers. Participants gain classroom experience under the supervision of experienced educators, focusing on real-world skills rather than traditional coursework. The goal is to prepare a well-equipped workforce ready to meet the needs of 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 latest round of funding will benefit various educational institutions during the 2025-26 academic year. This effort follows Governor Ron DeSantis’ launch of the Teacher Apprenticeship Program through HB 1035 in 2023, which was intended to attract and retain high-quality teaching professionals.
Further information about the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Program can be found at www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant.
