GREENBELT, Md. — Maryland’s second largest public school system was awarded a major federal grant that will help schools attract more effective teachers.
Education leaders and elected officials made the announcement Monday during an event that drew both of the state’s U.S. Senators.
The grant provides Prince George’s County Public Schools with about $25 million over a period of three years.
“We need to make sure that we’re attracting, retaining and rewarding good teachers,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who spoke Monday during the event at Greenbelt Middle School. “If you have motivated and dedicated teachers — that is what makes a great school.”
Under the U.S. Department of Education’s “Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program,” the money will be used to help high-needs schools compensate educators who are successful in boosting academic achievement.
“This is a big moment,” said Sen. Ben Cardin. “These are very competitive funds. They’re not easy to get.”
According to the Education Department, the program helps “increase students’ access to effective educators” and expands “the array of promising approaches that can help these educators and other personnel succeed.”
Schools can use the money to implement performance-based teacher and principal compensation in an effort to give educators incentives to take on more responsibilities and leadership roles.
“We’re talking about an excess of $25 million to help develop the type of leadership here that will provide excellence in education,” Cardin said.
It is a refreshing moment for the troubled school system.
An investigation is ongoing into claims that education officials tampered with student grades and inflated graduation rates.
In 2016, federal officials terminated a $6.4-million grant for the county’s Head Start program because teachers were caught humiliating children and using corporal punishment. Before that, the school system was rocked by a scandal involving an elementary school volunteer charged with sexually abusing students and producing child pornography.
