Education Workforce Investment

New York State seeks to rebuild its teacher workforce – including through recruiting and retaining teachers throughout the state to resolve the ongoing teacher shortage. Programs will provide incentives for teachers, accelerate the state certification process, address student needs and create a robust pipeline of future educators to ensure a shortage never again threatens the opportunities for families and children.

$30 Million Empire State Teacher Residency Program

The Empire State Teacher Residency Program will provide matching funding for local districts to create one- or two-year residency programs for graduate-level teacher candidates. Funded programs will involve SUNY, CUNY and private colleges partnering with public school districts to provide reduced or free tuition for teaching candidates, including books and fees, mentoring, and a stipend to cover living expenses.

Proposals were due June 30, 2023 and are now under review.

Please click here for more information. Awardees will be announced soon.

Questions may be submitted to: [email protected].

$10 Million Alternative Teacher Certification Program

Alternative certification programs are a pathway to the teaching profession that may help reduce time and cost barriers for candidates interested in a teaching career. Funds will be allocated via competitive grants to expand existing programs or develop and implement new high-quality, research-based, master’s-level alternative certification programs. Priority will be given to programs partnering with high-needs school districts and those focusing on shortage areas identified by the New York State Education Department, including Adolescence (grades 7-12) content areas, Students with Disabilities (all grades), and English for Speakers of Other Languages (all grades).

This program will be open to Institutions of Higher Education throughout New York State. More information will be available as the program is developed.

$8 Million Upskilling Paraprofessionals Program

Teaching Assistants/paraprofessionals can be an essential part of the teacher pipeline given their prior classroom experience and strong connections to the communities they serve. Funds will be allocated via competitive grants to expand existing programs or develop and implement new programs that recruit and support teaching assistants/paraprofessionals in obtaining teacher certification through a registered baccalaureate-level teacher education program.  Priority will be given to programs partnering with high-needs school districts and those focusing on shortage areas identified by the New York State Education Department, including Adolescence (grades 7-12) content areas, Career and Technical Education (grades 7-12), Students with Disabilities (all grades), and English for Speakers of Other Languages (all grades).

This program will be open to Institutions of Higher Education throughout New York State. More information will be available as the program is developed.