National Center for Grow Your Own Partners with Passage Preparation to Expand Access to High-Quality Licensure Test Preparation for Aspiring Educators

Washington, D.C. — May 13, 2025

The National Center for Grow Your Own (NCGYO), a national leader in strengthening educator pipelines through removing financial barriers for aspiring teachers, has announced an exclusive partnership with Passage Preparation™, a premier provider of educator licensure assessment preparation. This collaboration is designed to accelerate the success of teacher candidates served by state education agencies (SEAs), local education agencies (LEAs), and educator preparation programs (EPPs) across the country.

NCGYO is dedicated to identifying, preparing, and supporting aspiring educators to become effective, certified teachers in their local schools. Through Grow Your Own (GYO) pathways and registered apprenticeship programs, NCGYO advances opportunities for homegrown talent and workforce sustainability. By endorsing Passage Preparation, NCGYO enhances its ability to provide aspiring educators with access to comprehensive, research-aligned tools to help candidates succeed on required licensure exams.

Passage Preparation is now the exclusively endorsed educator test preparation provider for the NCGYO network. Known for its innovative, educator-developed resources and customer-focused support, Passage Preparation offers asynchronous, state-aligned courses that prepare candidates for common licensure exams used in states across the country. These comprehensive courses combine engaging multimedia content with diagnostic assessments, interactive practice tests, and real-time progress tracking to support mastery of content and build confidence. Passage Preparation courses are built and delivered through the lens of the P–12 classroom, bringing the content covered on licensing exams closer to the teaching experience.

Key benefits for the NCGYO network include:

• Exclusive Discounts: NCGYO members receive deep discounts, making test prep more accessible for all aspiring educators.
• Dedicated Educator Success Managers: Each participating agency or program will receive personalized support, helping streamline implementation and promote candidate success.
• Passage Preparation Portal: A powerful tool for program administrators to monitor candidate engagement, access diagnostic and performance data, and tailor support services accordingly.
• Live Expert-Led Webinars: Topics range from using test prep tools effectively to deep dives on high-frequency exam content and strategies for reducing test anxiety.
• Six-Month Access to Teaching Channel: Candidates also gain access to a nationally recognized video library for professional development and classroom strategies.

“This partnership represents an alignment of vision and values,” said Nathan Estel, Managing Director of Passage Preparation. “Both organizations are committed to expanding the pipeline of qualified educators. We’re honored to support NCGYO’s groundbreaking work.”

“Our states and districts are constantly asking for support on licensure assessments for their apprentices and we only want to direct them to a high-quality provider,” said David Donaldson, Founder, National Center for Grow Your Own. “Our partnership with Passage Preparation ensures that our members and their candidates are equipped with the resources they need to meet the demands of state licensure and enter the profession with confidence.”

Together, NCGYO and Passage Preparation are poised to make a measurable impact on the education landscape—supporting community-based solutions to educator shortages and fostering the development of effective and committed teachers.

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NCGYO
David Donaldson, Founder
david@ncgyo.org

Passage Preparation
Nathan Estel, Managing Director
nathan.estel@passagepreparation.com

About NCGYO

The National Center for Grow Your Own (NCGYO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which provides technical assistance to state education agencies, state apprenticeship agencies and local education agencies (school districts) that are interested in launching or expanding “Grow Your Own” (GYO) and/or registered apprenticeship programs for aspiring teachers and principals. These programs are able to address educator shortages while improving teacher quality and retention.

About Passage Preparation

Passage Preparation specializes in providing comprehensive licensure assessment preparation resources designed to bolster teacher confidence and proficiency. These learning resources equip licensure candidates with the knowledge necessary for success on exams and instill in them best teaching practices using methodologies thoughtfully curated to be engaging and aligned precisely with the content covered on the licensure exams. Passage Preparation is part of K12 Coalition, a certified B Corporation helping schools and teachers thrive nationwide. Learn more at passagepreparation.com/ncgyo.

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