I've heard from several readers who read my story this weekend about a "grow your own" teaching scholarship initiative in Baltimore County and who wanted to know how to apply for the program. The initiative, formally known as "Baltimore County Public Schools Scholarship Loan Program," was created this school year to encourage the system's graduates to consider careers in education and commit to returning to the county to teach in some of its neediest schools.

Among other qualifications, applicants must be a Baltimore County public school senior with a minimum GPA of 2.8. Scholarship recipients must maintain Maryland residency during college; declare a major in education and commit to teach in a "critical need" subject area, such as math, science or secondary special-education; and commit to teaching in a low-income school within six months of graduating from college.

Here's a link to the online brochure, which includes contact information:

www.bcps.org/parents/pdf/BCPS-Scholarship-Program-Brochure.pdf

Read Sunday's story about the program:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-md.co.scholarships03jun03,0,5928464.story?track=mostemailedlink