Method

We examined programs that target high school students, paraeducators, noncertified school staff, and community members. The analysis was limited to programs that were geared toward local candidates (e.g., high school students, paraeducators, noncertified school staff) who would be teaching in their local communities. However, to be as comprehensive as possible, we captured a broad range of programs that includes career and technical education, alternative certification, career ladders, and those that are more limited in scope (e.g., scholarships, student clubs).

All 50 states plus the District of Columbia were included in the scan. In the summer of 2018, we developed a coding framework that would allow us to list the policies and programs in place to support GYO. The framework was designed based on a review of external GYO educator literature and research, New America’s existing research on GYO educator programs, and guidance from a New America GYO advisory group. The primary coding was conducted by three individuals. We relied on Google searches using the term “[state name] grow your own teachers” or “[state name] paraprofessional to teacher.” We also used 50-state comparisons conducted by the Education Commission of the States on teacher retention and recruitment policies¹ and secondary Career and Technical Education Clusters,² state plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and a Westat analysis of state teacher equity plans.³ A reliability check was conducted for 30 percent of the states. In the summer of 2020, each state’s data were reviewed and, when necessary, updated to include new programs or to remove programs that had lapsed. These data were also reviewed and updated in the summer of 2022 and in the winter of 2024. Data on programs and policies in every state and DC can be found in Chapter 3 of this report.

We surveyed GYO program directors and leaders in the fall of 2023 and winter of 2024 to learn more about partners, target candidates, funding, degrees offered, and program graduates. The survey was publicized in New America newsletters, by partner organizations, and by a handful of state education agencies. Email solicitations were sent to 105 GYO program leaders, 40 of whom also received follow-up phone calls. FDR Group assisted with survey development and outreach. The Wisconsin Center for Education Research fielded a slightly modified version of the survey to programs across the state of Wisconsin as part of a separate research project. They shared their survey results with us and five of those responses were included in our national survey findings. The survey was also sent to members of New America’s GYO Educator National Network, a professional learning community of 25 GYO programs, which has helped inform our understanding of GYO. The data reported here come from 87 programs in 38 states, with the highest number of responses coming from Indiana, Oregon, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. We heard from program leaders in public and charter schools/districts, state education agencies, community based organizations, and educator preparation programs.