Bill > S03770

This bill creates two interconnected programs to address teacher shortages in New York State: First, it establishes the City University of New York Center for Excellence in Urban Education, which will collaborate with urban school districts to develop specialized teaching programs, recruit minority candidates into teaching, and create clinical education opportunities for preservice teachers in urban settings. The center aims to address critical challenges in urban education, such as classroom management, racial sensitivities, and complex social issues impacting school performance. Second, the bill creates the Regents Public School Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, which will annually award 80 loan forgiveness awards to certified teachers who agree to teach in areas of New York state designated as having teacher shortages. Award recipients will receive up to $10,000 annually for two years to help offset their undergraduate and graduate student loan expenses, in exchange for a commitment to teach full-time in a shortage area for at least 24 months. The program prioritizes candidates with specific training in high-need certification areas, those serving in shortage regions, and those willing to teach in areas with severe teacher shortages. These initiatives are designed to strategically address teacher recruitment and retention challenges, particularly in urban and underserved educational settings across New York State.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3770