College of Education

Towson Learning Network

The College of Education has a rich history of collaboration with Maryland's public school systems and state educational agencies. As an essential element of that collaboration, the mission of the Towson Learning Network (TLN) within the College of Education is to meet the ongoing educational needs of in-service teachers and local school systems. The entrepreneurial nature of the Towson Learning Network serves as the structure and process for responding effectively and promptly to both the professional development needs of local school systems, including challenges related to state and federal legislation, and the state's teacher shortage.

Towson University began offering multiple off-campus graduate courses at school system sites in 1994. Since then, TLN has expanded by formalizing continuous professional development partnerships with school systems in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, Central Maryland, Southern Maryland, as well as the Eastern Shore. As TLN evolved and established a solid reputation with school systems, requests expanded from single course offerings and four-course cohorts to master's degree programs in reading, special education, educational technology, early childhood education, elementary education, educational leadership, and school library media. To ensure high quality and rigorous academic standards for off-campus courses, a mix of full-time and adjunct faculty are engaged. An ongoing, concerted effort provides support, resources and training for adjunct faculty.

The success and continuous growth of the Towson Learning Network program serves as a model for programs designed to meet professional needs in the education and business communities.

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