State officials estimate that the state will need more than 180,000 new teachers in the next decade – meanwhile enrollment in New York's teacher education programs has been declining since 2009. This funding is meant to respond to the critical teacher shortage – seeking to recruit, prepare, and increase teacher retention to bolster the education workforce.
DOL and SUNY operate three grant programs with a total budget of $96 million.
The Empire State Teacher Residency Program provides matching funds for local school districts to create one- or two-year residency programs for graduate-level teacher candidates. This $60 million program provides teacher participants in residency programs reduced or free tuition, including books and fees, mentoring, and a stipend to cover living expenses. DOL partners with SUNY, CUNY, and private colleges in this effort.
Status: Launched. DOL released a Request for Proposals in April 2023. Proposals were due June 2023, and DOL announced $15.7 million in the first round of awards. With additional awards made in December, the DOL program now totals over $29.3 million to 17 awardees.
Program Outcomes to Date: Programs are set to begin in 2024 and will provide over 980 teachers from across the state with residencies.
Complementing the previous awards, in March 2024, DOL anticipates releasing another round of competitive funding to which school districts and their higher education partners may apply. The agency anticipates funding hundreds of additional teacher residents with up to $30 million for programs beginning as early as the 2025 school year.
For more information, visit the DOL website or email [email protected].
Alternative certification programs are a pathway to the teaching profession that can help reduce time and cost barriers for candidates interested in a teaching career. This $20 million will be allocated via competitive grants to expand existing programs or to 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 NYSED. This program is open to higher education institutions throughout New York State
Status: Launched. SUNY released a Request for Proposals in August 2023. Proposals were due in November 2023, with awards expected to be announced in early 2024.
Teaching assistants and paraprofessionals can be an essential part of the teacher pipeline given their prior classroom experience and strong connections to the communities they serve. This $16 million will be allocated via competitive grants to expand existing programs or to develop and implement new programs that recruit and support teaching assistants and/or 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 NYSED. This program is open to public colleges and universities throughout the state.
Status: Launched. SUNY released a Request for Proposals in August 2023. Proposals were due in November 2023, with awards expected to be announced in early 2024.