College of Education, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

“Grow Our Own” Teachers Initiative

Do you want to become a local teacher and possess a Bachelor’s degree already? You may be eligible for stipends* to cover tuition costs through the Grow Our Own (GOO) Teachers Initiative!

GOO is made possible through a partnership between the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (HIDOE) and the College of Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Recipients of GOO funding are required to:

1. Complete one of the following programs:

    • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Secondary Education
    • Master of Education in Teaching (MEdT K-12)
    • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Elementary Education
    • Bachelor’s (BE.d) Elementary Education & Hawaiian Language Immersion

2. Gain teacher licensure through the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board (HTSB)

3. Commit to three (3) years of full-time teaching (grades K-12) in their licensed field in Hawaiʻi Public Schools.

*Stipends cover the cost of tuition and fees; program courses previously taken are not covered; subject to availability of funds.

General Info

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Resident of Hawaiʻi
  • Possess a Bachelor’s Degree*
  • Meet Application Deadlines
  • Successfully admitted to the School of Teacher Education Programs.

*NOTE: Exception for undergraduate BEd Elementary Hawaiian Immersion, or those accepted in the BAM & BAP degree areas

Applications will be prioritized by:

  1. Hawaiʻi Public School Employees (i.e., emergency hire, substitute, educational assistant, etc.) in Secondary & Elementary school settings
  2. Those seeking licensure in HIDOE Federal Teacher Shortage Areas*
  3. Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Secondary
  4. MEdT-Secondary
  5. Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Elementary
  6. MEdT- Elementary

* Federal Teacher Shortage Areas

  • English
  • English as Second Language (ESL)
  • Hawaiian Immersion
  • Hawaiian Knowledge
  • Hawaiian Language
  • Hawaiian Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • World Languages

GOO recipients are eligible for stipends that cover the cost of tuition and fees. Program courses that were previously taken will not be covered. Students enrolled in an online program will only be assessed for resident tuition regardless of their residence in a different state or country.

Stipends will cover tuition and fees:

Post-Baccalaureate Secondary Up to 36 credits
MEdT K-12 Up to 34 credits
MEdT Hawaiian Immersion Up to 46 credits
Post-Baccalaureate Elementary Up to 31 credits
BEd Elementary Hawaiian Immersion Up to 54 credits

Please Note:

  • Neighbor island students will also receive travel stipends to cover roundtrip flights that are purchased by the GOO recipients to attend mandatory face-to-face meetings.
  • Repeated courses for any reason (i.e., no pass, withdrawal after the official drop date, etc.) will not be funded.
  • GOO tuition and travel stipends are considered as income by the Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education, therefore, GOO stipends are tax-deductible. No tax form is provided by the university.
  • GOO recipients are required to sign and return a memo that will be emailed from our GOO Administrator to confirm receipt of issued stipend checks.

Subject to availability of funds.

Program & Application Info

PBCTE-SECONDARY INFO
Program overview & COURSEWORK See Post-Baccalaureate – Secondary program page
Deadlines
 Priority: September 1

Final: October 1
STIPENDS COVERS 36 credits

Neighbor island students will also receive travel stipends to cover roundtrip flights that are purchased by the GOO recipients to attend mandatory face-to-face meetings.
STIPENDS SCHEDULE Tuition stipends are issued after the semester starts (for teacher licensure courses only). Please note, you will not receive stipend checks until after the “drop a course” deadline (see academic calendar for dates). It could take a month or longer before your check is processed and delivered in the mail. So please pay your tuition and think of your Stipend check as a reimbursement.
HOW TO APPLY See Post-Baccalaureate – Secondary program page

Students applying for GOO funding can also consider submitting an optional Letter of Recommendation. Priority will be given to those who have a letter of recommendation from their school administration.
MEDT-SECONDARY INFO
Program overview & COURSEWORK See MEdT- program page
Deadlines
(Must be admitted)
 Priority: February 1

Final: March 1
STIPENDS COVERS Up to 34 credits

Neighbor island students will also receive travel stipends to cover roundtrip flights that are purchased by the GOO recipients to attend mandatory face-to-face meetings.
STIPENDS SCHEDULE Tuition stipends are issued after the semester starts (for teacher licensure courses only). Please note, you will not receive stipend checks until after the “drop a course” deadline (see academic calendar for dates). It could take a month or longer before your check is processed and delivered in the mail. So please pay your tuition and think of your Stipend check as a reimbursement.
HOW TO APPLY Admitted candidates may apply for the stipend using the MEdT GOO Application

Students applying for GOO funding can also consider submitting an optional Letter of Recommendation. Priority will be given to those who have a letter of recommendation from their school administration.
PBCTE-ELEMENTARY INFO
Program overview & COURSEWORK See Post-Baccalaureate – Elementary program page
Deadlines
(Must be admitted)
 Priority: September 1

Final: October 1
STIPENDS COVERS 31 credits

Neighbor island students will also receive travel stipends to cover roundtrip flights that are purchased by the GOO recipients to attend mandatory face-to-face meetings.
STIPENDS SCHEDULE Tuition stipends are issued after the semester starts (for teacher licensure courses only). Please note, you will not receive stipend checks until after the “drop a course” deadline (see academic calendar for dates). It could take a month or longer before your check is processed and delivered in the mail. So please pay your tuition and think of your Stipend check as a reimbursement.
HOW TO APPLY Admitted candidates may apply for the stipend using the Post-Baccalaureate – Elementary GOO Application

Students applying for GOO funding can also consider submitting an optional Letter of Recommendation. Priority will be given to those who have a letter of recommendation from their school administration.

Student Testimonials