The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced a $2.1 million grant for school districts to “Grow Your Own” teachers. The grant marks the third round of funding for the Education Career Pathway program, which recruits local students to the teaching profession. Applicants will receive priority points for implementing the program in rural or low-income schools. Sixty percent of teachers work in a school within 20 miles of the high school from which they graduated. The Education Career Pathway provides current high school students with the opportunity to participate in coursework designed to prepare them for success in a college-level teacher preparation program. Students participate in work-based learning to hone their craft and gain experience in different educational settings and content areas. Students also receive dual credit, mentorship, and opportunities to earn credentials, such as paraprofessional licensure, and micro-credentials to demonstrate the teaching competencies they develop through the program. The Request for Proposals is available in the electronic Grants Management System. Proposals are due electronically by 4 p.m. March 14. For more information, visit www.growyourownteachers.org.