The Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM)

What is TAM?

TAM is an MSDE-approved CTE (Career and Technology Education) college-preparatory program. This program was developed collaboratively among local school systems, community colleges, four-year institutions, and representatives from the University System of Maryland, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and the Maryland State Department of Education. TAM aims to address the teacher shortages in critical areas by creating a pipeline of future teacher candidates, starting with establishing Future Educators Association (FEA) chapters in local school systems. TAM students remain active FEA members and are encouraged to pursue post-secondary degrees and careers in education. The TAM curriculum is based on the outcomes of the Maryland Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) degree, which reflects the National Council for the Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE) standards. TAM students will complete a four-course sequence beginning in tenth grade. These are college-level courses with college-level textbooks. The courses are:

  • Human Growth & Development Through Adolescence Honors (10th or 11th grade). This is the first course in the Teacher Academy of Maryland, but can also be taken as a stand-alone elective.
  • Teaching as a Profession. GT (10th ,11th, or 12th grade). This course is also offered as an elective anyone can take and a has the option of being taken as a dual-enrollment course in conjunction with HCC that earns 3 college credits with a 50% tuition discount. The course is taken at CHS but awarded credit upon successful completion from HCC.
  • Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction (11th or 12th grade)
  • Field Experience in Education (12th grade)

A portfolio of artifacts and reflections will be assembled throughout the TAM program. Taking all four courses for the Teacher Academy satisfies the graduation pathway requirement and allows high school students to explore a potential career and have the opportunity to earn college credit as they learn. TAM students are encouraged to take the ParaPro exam in their senior year. Achieving a passing score on the ParaPro exam will allow students the opportunity to become paraprofessionals in local school systems while earning an undergraduate degree. Successful completion of the TAM program will articulate to participating colleges and universities as either articulated or transcript credit.

Transcripted Credit

Partner and Credits

  • Towson University - 3 Transcripted credits for EDUC 202 Historical Contemporary Perspectives on America’s Urban Schools
  • Coppin State University - EDUC 200 History of EducationPSY
  • Stevenson University - 206 Child Growth and Development
  • St. Mary's College

Articulated Credit

Partner and Credits

  • Howard Community College - 3-6 Articulated Credits, depending on Academy and Major chosen. Additional requirements must be met in order for students to earn the articulated credit from HCC.

Articulated Credit

Partner and Credits

  • Community Colleges** - 3 Credit Hours Earned for Foundations of Education

**Please see your TAM Teacher for the names of other community colleges which offer articulated credit for TAM graduates.

  • MSDE is in talks with other colleges and universities, so more may be participating at the time you end the program.
  • Students may take TAM coursework without necessarily being enrolled in the TAM program.