The Teaching Advancement Program “Teachers of Tomorrow” (TOT) | DOS GEO 23 CA 014 07172023

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS GEO 23 CA 014 07172023

The Teaching Advancement Program "Teachers of Tomorrow" (TOT) is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Georgia-funded education initiative designed to raise the quality of general education in Georgia by strengthening pre-service teacher education (PSTE) programs and building the professional capacity of in-service teachers and teacher educators. It is positioned as a complement to the existing USAID-funded "Educating the Future Activity," but adds a distinct exchange component, including both an inbound and outbound collaboration element plus a structured study tour. The core idea is to modernize how future teachers are prepared, improve how current educators are supported, and tighten the practical links between universities and schools so that teacher training is grounded in real classroom experience and measurable instructional improvement.

At the center of TOT is an intensive, hands-on professional development package for teacher educators and university faculty, delivered through a mix of in-person sessions and webinars. The training focus includes curriculum development, modern teaching methodologies, student assessment practices, and other practical tools that help educators update both what they teach and how they teach it. The program also places special emphasis on the concept of teacher leadership beginning at the pre-service stage. As part of this, TOT plans to co-develop and introduce a new course (or courses) in teacher leadership and/or instructional leadership and curriculum development, working closely with local teacher educators to ensure the content fits the Georgian context and can be sustained after the grant period.

A major operational goal is to establish or improve practicum models for pre-service teachers. TOT aims to strengthen partnerships between PSTE institutions and local schools so that student teachers can transition more effectively from being university students to being practicing teachers. This includes improving the design and implementation of practicum experiences, building capacity among pre-service faculty to supervise fieldwork, and strengthening the feedback loop through classroom observation, microteaching, and constructive coaching. The program also encourages exploring non-financial incentives and recognition models for schools that host practicums, drawing on international best practices to make school participation attractive and valued without relying on direct payments.

TOT is also built around international exchange in both directions. On the U.S. side, the program will support a two-week study tour for eight Georgian participants, drawing from both pre-service and in-service teachers. During the tour, the delegation will visit U.S.-based universities to learn how teacher education programs are structured, how curricula are designed and maintained, how universities build working partnerships with schools, and how quality assurance and accountability mechanisms operate. Beyond technical learning, the visit is also intended to raise the professional profile of the participants so they can have greater influence when applying lessons learned back home. In the other direction, American partners will travel to Georgia to deliver targeted trainings on the topics above and additional needs identified in consultation with relevant stakeholders and program participants, ensuring the assistance is practical and responsive rather than generic.

The stated program objectives are broad but concrete. They include improving the professional capacity of teacher educators by equipping them with strategies to adapt their teaching practices and update program content; designing and launching new coursework tied to instructional leadership and curriculum development; and addressing weak recruitment into PSTE programs, especially the challenge of attracting motivated and capable candidates who are interested in STEM teaching. The recruitment emphasis explicitly includes reaching students from rural areas and encouraging greater male participation, reflecting labor-market needs as demand for STEM teachers increases while university programs struggle to attract strong candidates. Additional objectives include establishing effective practicum models that can be replicated and building a nationwide alumni network so participants can continue collaborating on shared challenges after the formal program ends.

The types of activities supported under TOT are largely capacity-building and systems-oriented. Supported topics include training and workshops on curriculum and course design, diagnosing and addressing student learning gaps, helping pre-service teachers make the transition into professional teaching roles, and improving practicum supervision through observation techniques and constructive feedback practices. The program may also support mentorship connections that link pre-service and leadership-focused faculty with experienced school leaders, giving university educators direct exposure to practical leadership realities in schools. In addition, TOT can provide opportunities for faculty to engage in professional development through conferences or other learning events, whether virtual or in person, so participants stay current on educational research, methods, and emerging best practices.

Implementation is planned across two Georgian universities, with one institution based in Tbilisi and the other located in a region, reinforcing an intent to reach beyond the capital and support more geographically balanced improvements in teacher preparation. The funding opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement, which typically indicates a more collaborative relationship with the funding agency during implementation. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than universities). The opportunity was issued by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Georgia under funding opportunity number DOS GEO 23 CA 014 07172023, posted July 17, 2023, with an original closing date of August 17, 2023. The award ceiling is $200,000, and the agency anticipated making up to four awards, suggesting multiple implementers or parallel projects could be funded to achieve similar outcomes across institutions or regions.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Georgia in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Teaching Advancement Program “Teachers of Tomorrow” (TOT)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 17, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 17, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for DOS GEO 23 CA 014 07172023

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