What's happening
This bill allows partial loan forgiveness under the New York state math and science teaching incentive program if a teacher loses their job through no fault of their own after teaching at least three years.
Why it matters
Protects teachers from full financial penalty. if they lose their job through no fault of their own (like layoffs or school closures), recognizing that not all departures are voluntary or due to performance.
Encourages more candidates to enter and remain in math and science teaching. by reducing the financial risk associated with the state incentive program, potentially helping to address teacher shortages in these critical subjects.
Adds a safety net for teachers facing unexpected job loss. , offering partial loan forgiveness based on years actually taught, rather than demanding full repayment, which acknowledges both their service and circumstances beyond their control.
Promotes fairness and retention. by differentiating between those who leave teaching by choice or for cause, versus those who are forced out, making the program more equitable and potentially more attractive.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ease Repayment for Teachers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1988
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the repayment of awards under the New York state math and science teaching incentive program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 5 of section 669-d of the education law, as amended by section 5 of part G of chapter 54 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
(b) a recipient has not taught in the field of math or science in a school located within New York state providing secondary education recognized by the board of regents or the university of the state of New York for five of the seven years after the completion of the degree program and receipt of initial certification, except that if a recipient teaches in the field of math or science in a school located within New York state providing secondary education recognized by the board of regents or the university of the state of New York for at least three of the seven years after the completion of the degree program and receipt of initial certification and thereafter loses their employment due to no fault of their own, and is unable to find other eligible employment within the seven year period, the amount of the award to be repaid, and interest thereon, shall be reduced to a prorated amount equal to five years less the number of years taught divided by five multiplied by the principal amount of the award, and interest shall be charged from the date of the loss of employment; or
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01702-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the repayment of awards under the New York state math and science teaching incentive program
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of the bill is to amend repayment provisions where a recipi- ent of an award substantially completes his or her obligations, but is unable to complete such obligations through no fault of his or her own.
Summary of specific provisions
Section One - amends paragraph (b) of section 669-d of the Education Law relating to the math and science teaching incentive program to provide that when an award recipient has completed at least three years of the five year obligation, and thereafter loses his or her job through no fault, and is thereafter unable, despite best efforts, to find other employment within the seven year period required by the incentive program, then that recipient will be obligated to repay the prorated share of the award equal to five years less the number of years taught divided by five multiplied by the principal amount of the award, with interest from the time the recipient lost his or her job.
Section Two - Effective date.
Justification
Many schools are abolishing positions and releasing teachers as they downsize their faculty, sometimes releasing teachers who have worked for several years and have received tenure. Under the terms of the math and science teaching incentive program, if a recipient does not work in an eligible school for at least 5 of 7 years after completion of his or her degree program, the entire amount of grants plus accrued interest must be repaid. With school downsizing, we find that some recipients are seeking employment, finding eligible jobs and working for several, but less than 5, years before being laid off. Such recipients try to find another job, but there are no jobs available, and they are then notified that they owe the entire amount of their grant, plus interest from the inception of their participation, and that it must be paid off in 10 years. This does not seem fair when such recipients have fulfilled a substantial portion of their commitment, cannot find employment through no fault of their own, and are faced with owing more interest than if they had simply obtained school loans. In essence, participation in the grant program has penalized them. This bill seeks to remedy this unfair situation.
Prior legislative history
2015-16 - S.4312-B/A.7341-B - P.S./Education 2017-18 - S.3886/A.4340 - PS/Education
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.