Missouri Schools receive “Grow Your Own” grants to recruit local educators

Missouri is looking to bolster its education workforce. 

Missouri’s first-ever state-funded “Grow Your Own” grants have been awarded to 125 education agencies. 

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s FY24 budget includes $2.5 million to support one-time grants of 10-thousand dollars to create or strengthen their local “Grow Your Own” program. 

It’s a program that recruits students to become future educators. 

The program works to attract local students as well as non-certified school staff to the teaching profession. 

The funds are used to support dual credit courses, scholarships for high school students, student internships, and opportunities for other non-teaching adults.