NYS: $30 million Empire State Teacher Residency Program to increase teacher support & retention

Funding to subsidize master's degree programs for graduate level K-12 teacher candidates

√ View the New York State Department of Labor's request for applications here

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced the launch of the Empire State Teacher Residency Program through the New York State Department of Labor. This program will:

•Provide matching funding for local public school districts and/or Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to create two-year residency opportunities for graduate-level K-12 teacher candidates.

•Provide $30 million in funding to subsidize master's degree or teaching certification programs for qualified residency program candidates.

•Prioritize diversity among candidates and partnering mentors, with a particular focus on high-need subject areas and geographic locations facing shortages, to provide support for both communities in need and teachers from diverse backgrounds.

"With the tremendous responsibility of inspiring and shaping the minds of younger generations, New York's teachers deserve to be set up for success," Hochul said. "This investment will ensure new teachers have the mentorship and support to adapt to a challenging and ever-changing field. New Yorkers deserve the best education, and our teachers are essential in providing that."

Hochul’s team said, “Teacher residency programs, in which teachers in training are given a mentor and real teaching experience under the mentor's supervision, have been proven to dramatically increase teacher retention rates and improve the experience of educators in the early, toughest years of teaching. These programs expand access to high-need communities that often face barriers by reducing costs and incentivizing teachers to work in geographic locations facing shortages. This leads to increased student success due to higher teacher retention and resources.”

Funded programs would involve the State University of New York, the City University of New York, and/or private colleges partnering with public school districts and/or BOCES to provide reduced or free tuition for teaching candidates, including books and fees, resident wages and fringe, and stipends for living expenses. These stipends are intended to allow easier access to the field for aspiring teachers, and allow the Empire State Teacher Residency Program to be a creative pathway into teaching for teachers from diverse backgrounds.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Teachers are essential to our communities, and we need them now more than ever. We must support and empower new teachers in their careers, especially as we all adapt to a new age of education."

SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said, "SUNY has long played a key role in preparing teachers to educate the next generation of leaders in classrooms statewide. We need highly-qualified, passionate and dedicated teachers now more than ever, as the pandemic impacted students both academically and emotionally. As the teaching profession has evolved, our colleges and universities have expanded programs and increased support to ensure graduates' success. Last year alone, about 7,500 SUNY students were awarded teacher certificates. More are needed, and from all backgrounds, as we know students who have teachers who look like them and share their life experience have better outcomes.”

CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said, "CUNY prepares a third of New York City's new public school teachers each year, more than any other university, and this new program will help these aspiring teachers get the support they need to become the teachers our city's students deserve. Teaching is one of the most challenging and crucial jobs in any society and I'm grateful to Gov. Hochul for her ongoing commitment to helping our educators at every level."

New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta said, "Giving aspiring teachers an in-depth opportunity to learn on the job from high-quality mentor teachers and develop connections with students is key to setting future educators up for success. As we work to attract more people to our profession, this program shows that New York is dedicated to reversing staff shortages, helping diversify the education workforce, and giving staff the tools they'll need to teach and mentor their own students.”

The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities President Lola Brabham said, "On behalf of CICU's member colleges and universities, I thank Gov. Hochul for her consistent work in strengthening pathways for new teachers. This investment will diversify and grow our teacher workforce. CICU member campuses across New York graduate 58% of bachelors and graduate students who become educators. We are excited to be a part of this solution, and our campuses look forward to partnering with the state to make this program a success."

To find more information on the program, or see if a public school district or BOCES is eligible to apply, visit https://dol.ny.gov/funding-opportunities-0.