Beginning July 1, 2025, the Department shall consult with a national nonprofit entity that has successfully guided other state education agencies or local education agencies that have increased the number of licensed teachers by: Launching sustainable, cost–effective grow–your–own teacher preparation programs; Implementing registered teacher apprenticeships; and Implementing teacher residencies. The entity selected under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall support the Department in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Program, including the development of metrics for establishing high–quality teacher preparation and licensure programs that have the highest likelihood of aiding the State by: Increasing the teacher workforce; and Improving teacher retention and diversity. The entity selected under paragraph (1) of this subsection may work directly with collaboratives to support the development and implementation of grow–your–own teacher preparation programs. The Department shall award a grant to a local school system that is part of a collaborative for employees of the local school system to complete a pathway to teacher licensure under the agreement described in § 18–27A–03 of this subtitle. The Department shall award a grant to a local school system for: Tuition, books, and fees for teacher candidates; Stipends for mentor teachers; and Costs associated with the administration of the Program. Grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis. In awarding a grant, the Department shall prioritize collaboratives that partner with institutions of higher education offering to negotiate a lower tuition cost for teacher candidates. The Department may award a grant to a collaborative formed between at least one local school system and one employee organization representing employees of a local school system in accordance with Title 6, Subtitle 4 or Subtitle 5 of this article, if the collaborative uses a program model that allows candidates to complete coursework that does not require enrollment in an institution of higher education. This subsection applies only to collaboratives that implement a registered teacher apprenticeship program model under the Program. In awarding a grant under this subsection, the Department shall prioritize collaboratives that: Are composed of a group of more than one local school system and more than one employee organization representing employees of a local system in accordance with Title 6, Subtitle 4 or Subtitle 5 of this article; and Implement a registered teacher apprenticeship program to be administered by the Department with a standardized curriculum that promotes on–the–job experiential learning to be leveraged across the State. An institution of higher education in the State may provide related instruction for a registered teacher apprenticeship program under this subsection through a competitive bidding process. A teacher candidate shall be paid a rate of pay and offered benefits that are at least equal to the rate of pay received by and benefits offered to a noncertified education support professional or provisional teacher of the equivalent classification and tenure in the local school system provided in the collective bargaining agreement. This paragraph does not apply to a provisional teacher. Except as provided in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, a teacher candidate may not serve as a teacher of record or a substitute teacher for any teacher other than the mentor teacher assigned to the teacher candidate. A teacher candidate may serve as a daily substitute teacher if: The teacher candidate does so in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement of the local school system; The teacher candidate agrees to the assignment; The teacher candidate’s mentor approves of the assignment; and The principal of the school in which the teacher candidate is employed approves of the assignment. A local school system may not reduce the compensation or benefits of a teacher candidate. A local school system and an employee organization that represents the teacher candidates shall negotiate a gradual release model that allows teacher candidates to focus primarily on internship and practicum requirements, if applicable. A teacher candidate shall perform a service obligation to teach full–time in the State in a public school or a public prekindergarten program in a content area in which there is a shortage of qualified educators, as identified by the Department for a minimum of 2 years.