This brief by New America presents the findings of a 50-state scan designed to identify programs and to investigate state policies that support Grow Your Own (GYO) program development, implementation, and sustainability. Despite variation in program design and implementation, states and districts consistently asserted the belief that investing in recruiting and preparing teachers from the local community will increase retention and equip schools with well-prepared teachers who are knowledgeable about the needs of students and families in the community.

This study found that (1) funding for GYO programs is inconsistent across states, (2) pathways for high school to teacher GYO programs are most common, and (3) GYO programs for paraeducators have been essential to meeting the diverse needs of students at the local level (e.g., bilingual teachers and special education teachers). Additionally, the brief emphasizes that GYO programs should nurture partnerships with school districts and teacher preparation programs to offer candidates comprehensive job-embedded training.