Maryland Awarded $9 Million Federal Grant to Build Student Career Exploration System
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ANNAPOLIS, MD – Gov. Moore today announced that Maryland was awarded a three‑year, $9 million Career Pathways Exploration grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop a statewide career exploration system for more than 600,000 Maryland students. The new system supports seamless transitions from high school, giving students access to a personalized and comprehensive plan for college and the workforce.
“Our administration is dedicated to building the best education system in the nation by creating every opportunity for our students to pursue their passion,” said Gov. Moore. “This grant allows schools access to state-of-the-art technology that connects students to opportunities in higher education or their desired career field – while expanding our many work-based learning programs – paving pathways to work, wages and wealth for Maryland high schoolers, so they can serve their communities and build a brighter future.”
Maryland will use the grant to develop a digital state-owned platform for students to build out six‑year plans for students in grades 7 through 12, stored in a “learner wallet,” that document skills, credentials, experiences, and progress. A learner wallet is a secure digital portfolio that holds a student’s verifiable credentials, such as certificates, transcripts, and other learning records, to share with employers, schools, or training programs. The funds will also expand work-based learning through internships, student-run businesses, registered apprenticeships and other projects.
This grant funding was secured with support from the Community Funding Accelerator (CFA), which helps communities identify and secure competitive public funding opportunities. The Governor’s Office for Children deploys CFA to support MSDE and other state agencies pursue funding opportunities aligned with the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to increasing economic mobility and reducing child poverty. CFA was secured through a philanthropic commitment to the ENOUGH Alliance.
“This grant provides the resources and tools that connect classroom learning to high-demand careers,” said Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools. “By modernizing how students plan, track, and showcase their skills, we are strengthening college and career readiness in our state.”
More than half of the grant funding will flow directly to school districts. All school systems will participate in the career exploration system by the end of the third year. The grant will also support data systems that connect to the state’s emerging Learning and Employment Record (LER), which create portable proof of what students and graduates have learned and can do.
Career-connected learning and workforce readiness are core priorities of the Moore-Miller Administration. Career-connected learning, which includes early career advising and six-year plans for every Maryland high school student, is foundational to meeting the goals of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future.
The grant, also made possible by the advocacy of the Maryland congressional delegation, runs from October 2026 to September 2029. The Division of College and Career Pathways in the MSDE Office of Teaching and Learning will lead implementation in partnership with local school systems, employers, higher education institutions, and statewide workforce partners. The initiative complements Maryland’s broader education-to-employment strategy and strengthens alignment with ongoing statewide workforce modernization efforts.
The Moore-Miller Administration’s sustained focus on public education has already yielded results across the state, such as improved national math and reading scores, and notable progress in fourth-grade reading. Since taking office, the administration has also cut statewide teacher vacancies in half through initiatives like the expanded $19 million Grow-Your-Own grant program, the launch of the “Feds to Eds” initiative for federal workers impacted by Trump Administration layoffs and firings, and the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program—Maryland’s first state-sponsored registered apprenticeship program for teaching.
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