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 PCOG GYO initiative is designed to expand a no-cost teacher apprenticeship program throughout Florida. The program offers aspiring educators hands-on classroom experience under the supervision of experienced teachers, rather than relying solely on traditional training methods.
“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 will support institutions participating in the PCOG GYO during the 2025-26 academic year. The expansion aligns with ongoing efforts by state leaders to address teacher recruitment and retention challenges. In 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis established the Teacher Apprenticeship Program through HB 1035 as part of these broader efforts.
More information about the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Program can be found at www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant.
