Governor Hochul Celebrates Back-to-School Week With New Legislation and Critical Investments to Support Educators

 

Awards First Round Funding In $30 Million Empire State Teacher Residency Program to Grow Teacher Workforce and Support Retention

Funding Subsidizes Master’s Degrees for Qualifying Teacher Candidates

Signs Legislation (A68A/S2140B) to Develop Programs to Attract Underrepresented Candidates into Teaching Profession

Signs Legislation (S1746/A1120) to Develop and Implement Programs to Prevent Workplace Violence in Public Schools

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced actions to expand and support a diverse teacher workforce in New York State. At an event at the United Federation of Teachers, Governor Hochul announced the first round of funding awards of the $30 million Empire State Teacher Residency Program. In addition, Governor Hochul signed legislation to direct the State Education Department to issue guidance to school districts for developing programs to attract underrepresented candidates into the teaching profession and legislation to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence in public schools.

“Teachers take on the vital role of educating and preparing our children for a successful future, and we have the responsibility to ensure they have the necessary resources and training to support them in this important task,” Governor Hochul said. “We’re working hard to build a world-class public education system in New York and our investment in our teachers is a core component of our success.”

In the first round of funding in Empire State Teacher Residency Program, multiple school districts and BOCES are receiving a total of $11.9 million in funding to create two-year residency opportunities for graduate-level K-12 teacher candidates. Program participants will gain real teaching experience under the supervision of mentors.

Governor Hochul signed legislation (A68A/S2140B) which directs the Commissioner of the State Education Department, in consultation with institutions of higher education, to issue guidance to school districts and boards of cooperative educational services for developing programs to attract underrepresented candidates into the teaching profession and to identify existing funding available to school districts for such purposes.

The first round of funding awards in the Empire State Teacher Residency Program are as follows:

• Eastern Suffolk BOCES - $4,590,000 to partner with 51 school districts to support 153 teacher residents.
• Albany City School District - $150,000 to support 5 teacher residents.
• Chatham Central School District - $30,000 to support 1 teacher resident.
• Warrensburg Central School District - $52,000 to support 2 teacher residents.
• Monroe 2 Orleans BOCES - $3,600,000 to support 120 teacher residents.
• Rochester City School District - $1,160,000 to support 40 teacher residents.
• Utica City School District - $300,000 to support 10 teacher residents.
• Ulster BOCES - $269,595 to support 9 teacher residents.
• Rockland BOCES - $300,000 to support 10 teacher residents.
• Syracuse City School District - $1,500,000 to support 50 teacher residents.

The New York State Department of Labor program, launched last October, is part of an effort to promote diversity in the educational workforce by funding master’s degrees for teacher residents. It also addresses teacher shortages in high-need regions in various subjects, including English, special education, bilingual education, career, and technical education, and more.

Additional upcoming awards will be announced on a rolling basis. Selected programs connect public school districts and/or BOCES with the State University of New York (SUNY), City University of New York (CUNY), and/or private colleges. Programs can use the funding to provide reduced or free tuition for teaching candidates earning a master’s degree, including books and fees, resident wages and benefits, and stipends for living expenses. These stipends allow easier access into the profession for aspiring teachers from diverse backgrounds.

Teacher residency programs have been proven to increase teacher retention rates and improve the experience of new educators. These programs expand access to communities that often face barriers by reducing costs and incentivizing teachers to work in geographic locations facing shortages.

This builds on Governor Hochul’s nation-leading education initiatives to address teacher shortages, including unprecedented support for education in the FY24 Budget, including $34.5 billion in School Aid. The Budget also includes $24 billion for Foundation Aid, delivering on Governor Hochul’s promise to fully fund Foundation Aid for the first time in history.