The University of Maryland College of Education joins the AmeriCorps Schools of National Service program, a new initiative supporting college access and accessibility. As an AmeriCorps School of National Service, the College of Education will provide matching funds for alumni of the domestic national service program who enter a graduate-level teacher preparation program at the College. This new partnership reflects the College’s commitment to civic engagement and growing the teacher pipeline throughout Maryland.

The College of Education will match up to $4,000 each for five AmeriCorps alumni entering the Master of Education with Certification (MCERT) program each year. Along with the College matching funds, full-time AmeriCorps members receive a $6,000 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for completing their service. In total, AmeriCorps alumni starting the MCERT program will receive more than $10,000 in scholarship funds.

As an AmeriCorps School of National Service, the College of Education hopes to attract civic-minded AmeriCorps alumni with a dedication to teaching and serving in high-needs schools and communities, helping to forward the College’s civic engagement and teacher-leader goals.

"The College of Education is proud to join the AmeriCorps Schools of National Service program. I am hopeful that our matching scholarship funds will draw some of the nearly 1.2 million AmeriCorps alumni, who as experienced community builders and practicing educators, will advance our College’s priorities related to civic engagement and social justice-oriented education,” said COE Dean Jennifer King Rice. “By expanding access to our programs at UMD, this initiative will help us grow a talented and diverse educator workforce for Maryland schools.” 

AmeriCorps will officially launch Schools of National Service through a virtual event open to the public. Jennifer King Rice is slated to speak during the event in a discussion addressing the importance of higher education, the value of national service, and UMD COE’s commitment to matching scholarship funding for the AmeriCorps Schools of National Service program.

Event: AmeriCorps and Higher Education: Partnering for Public Good
When: Tuesday, December 15, 2:00-3:00 pm EST 
Where: virtual, registration at 
https://americorps.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_KbjVmnS3QbyPH2CLR7HSWA

The MCERT program is a teacher preparation program that leads to teacher certification with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree, and will serve as the College’s pilot for the AmeriCorps Schools of National Service initiative. The MCERT program takes one year to complete and costs the same for in- and out-of-state students. Ultimately, the College would like to expand the benefits to other programs. The UMD College of Education joins the program as one of the few institutions in Maryland and the Big 10 to commit to being a School of National Service.

"We thank the University of Maryland College of Education for becoming an AmeriCorps School of National Service by pledging scholarship funding for AmeriCorps alumni participating in the College’s graduate-level teacher preparation program,” said AmeriCorps CEO Barbara Stewart. “The leadership skills, problem-solving ability, and commitment to civic engagement that AmeriCorps members gain during their service are a welcome addition to any campus. By making this commitment, the UMD College of Education will be better able to attract AmeriCorps alumni and help prepare the leaders of tomorrow by making higher education more affordable and accessible today.”