NEW YORK – Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday the launch of the Empire State Teacher Residency Program through the New York State Department of Labor.
This program will provide matching funds to local public school districts and / or cooperative education services committees to create two-year residency opportunities for graduate-level K-12 teacher candidates.
The program will award $ 30 million in funding to fund master’s or teacher certification programs for qualified candidates for the residency program. The program will prioritize diversity among applicants and associated mentors, with a specific focus on thematic areas of high need and geographic locations facing shortcomings.
In doing so, the program will provide support to both communities in need and teachers from diverse backgrounds.
“With a tremendous responsibility to inspire and shape the minds of the younger generation, New York teachers deserve to be ready for success,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will ensure that new teachers have the mentoring and support to adapt to a challenging and ever-changing field. New Yorkers deserve the best education and our teachers are essential to deliver it.”
According to the governor’s office, teacher residency programs, in which trainee teachers receive a mentor and effective teaching experience under the supervision of the mentor, have been shown to dramatically increase teacher retention rates and improve the experience of educators in the most difficult early years of teaching.
These programs expand access to high-need communities that often face barriers by lowering costs and incentivizing teachers to work in geographic locations that suffer from shortages. This leads to higher student success due to higher teacher and resource retention.
“Teachers are essential to our communities and we need them now more than ever,” said Roberta Reardon, commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor. “We need to support and empower new teachers in their careers, especially as we all adapt to a new era of education.”
Funded programs would engage State University of New York (SUNY), City University of New York (CUNY) and / or private universities in partnership with public school districts and / or BOCES to provide free or reduced tuition for applicants for the teaching, including books. and residence taxes, wages, subsidies and salaries for living expenses.
“Giving aspiring teachers an in-depth opportunity to learn on the job from high-quality teacher tutors and develop connections with students is key to preparing future educators for success,” said Andy Pallotta, president of New York State teachers. . “As we work to attract more people to our profession, this program shows that New York is dedicated to reversing the staff shortage, helping to diversify the educational workforce and providing staff with the tools they will need to teach and guide their students. “. Governor Hochul for his commitment to public education and the people who are dedicated to helping our students succeed. “
