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 brings the state’s total investment in the program to $15 million.
The PCOG GYO initiative provides a no-cost apprenticeship pathway for aspiring teachers across Florida. The program emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world classroom experience under the supervision of experienced educators. This approach is designed to create a strong teacher pipeline by offering practical training rather than traditional coursework.
“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 new funding will be distributed among institutions participating in the PCOG GYO program during the 2025-26 academic year. The expansion aligns with efforts launched after Governor Ron DeSantis established the Teacher Apprenticeship Program through HB 1035 in 2023.
More information about the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grow Your Own Program can be found at www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant.
