Jan 7, 2025 |
Thanks to the $3.4 million ‘Grow Your Own’ (GYO) grant from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) is offering eligible full-time employees and support staff the opportunity to earn a teaching certificate at no cost through a partnership with Grand Valley State University!!!
The grant covers tuition, books, fees, and other expenses, eliminating financial barriers and paving the way for individuals like long-term substitutes, bilingual tutors, Bearcat coaches, and others to pursue careers as classroom teachers.
Eligible BCPS staff can obtain an initial standard teaching certificate from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) following the completion of GVSU’s Graduate Teacher Certification (GTC) program. This program offers teacher preparation coursework and first-hand experience within BCPS classrooms.
- Qualifying individuals with a bachelor’s degree may choose between GVSU’s GTC program or the Michigan Teachers of Tomorrow program
- Other qualifying individuals with at least 30 college credits completed would begin with GVSU’s accelerated online Integrated Studies degree program, LEADS, to complete their bachelor’s degree first.
And the best part? All of this is available at no cost!
BCPS Staff interested in taking the next steps to becoming a BCPS teacher can fill out an application by clicking below: