Maryland Higher Education Commission

Improving Teacher Quality State Grants:
Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund Partnership Grant Program

The Improving Teacher Quality (ITQ) grant program supports teacher professional development to help high-need schools and districts develop highly qualified teachers and instructional leaders. The program is authorized by Title II, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the most recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. The 2006 Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency ACT (FFTA) legislation requires that prime awardees (MHEC) report information about sub-awardees (ITQ grantees) to whom they have granted Federal Funds after October 1, 2010.

Grants support programs that provide content-rich professional development for teachers, principals, and highly qualified paraprofessionals in core academic areas (arts, civics and government, economics, English, foreign language, geography, history, mathematics, reading or language arts, and science) or in the use of data and technology to help teachers improve their instruction.  Grants are awarded to partnerships that must include a school of arts and sciences within an institution of higher education, a division of a higher education institution that prepares teachers and principals, and at least one high-need local education agency (LEA), as “high-need LEA” is defined by the federal law.  Other school districts may be included, as may additional schools, two- and four-year colleges, nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated record of success in providing teacher professional development, and businesses.