What's happening
This bill creates the New York State Rural Teaching Incentive Program, offering tuition awards to students who commit to teaching in rural public schools.
Why it matters
Addresses rural teacher shortages. by creating financial incentives specifically for those willing to work in rural public schools, which often struggle to attract and retain qualified teachers.
Structured as a service-for-tuition program. Recipients must commit to teaching full-time in a rural New York school for five years, or repay the award as a loan with interest, making it a binding contract with real accountability.
Targets both undergraduate and graduate students. preparing for primary or secondary teaching careers, covering up to four years of undergrad and one year of graduate tuition at SUNY rates, potentially reducing student debt for future rural teachers.
Includes safeguards and hardship provisions. The requirement to repay is waived in cases like death or extreme hardship, and rules allow for deferment due to interruptions in study or employment, offering flexibility for recipients facing life challenges.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Pay Teachers To Work Rural
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3954
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 21, 2019
Introduced by Sens. RANZENHOFER, FUNKE, HELMING, ORTT, YOUNG -- 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 enacting the New York state rural teaching incentive program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 669-i to read as follows:
§ 669-i. New York state rural teaching incentive program. 1. Eligibility. Notwithstanding subdivision five of section six hundred sixtyone of this part, undergraduate and/or graduate students who are matriculated in an approved undergraduate or graduate program at degree granting institutions located within the state of New York leading to a career as a primary or secondary teacher shall be eligible for an award under this section, provided the applicant: (a) signs a contract with the corporation agreeing to teach in the classroom on a full-time basis for five years in a rural public primary or secondary school located within New York; and (b) complies with the applicable provisions of this article and all requirements promulgated by the corporation for the administration of the program.
2. Within amounts appropriated therefor, awards shall be granted to applicants that the corporation has certified are eligible to receive such awards. Up to five hundred awards may be made to new recipients annually. Such awards shall be made to recipients after the successful completion of each academic year, as defined by the corporation.
3. An award shall entitle the recipient to annual payments for not more than four academic years of full-time undergraduate study and one academic year of full-time graduate study leading to certification as a classroom teacher in a primary or secondary public school.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01795-01-9
S. 3954 2
4. Recipients shall receive an annual payment for the successful completion of an academic year, equal to the annual tuition charged to state resident students attending an undergraduate program full-time at the state university of New York, or actual tuition charged, whichever is less.
5. The corporation shall convert to a student loan the full amount of the award given pursuant to this section, plus interest, according to a schedule to be determined by the corporation if: (a) two years after the completion of the degree program and receipt of initial certification it is found that a recipient is not teaching in a rural public school located within New York state providing primary or secondary education; or (b) a recipient has not taught in a rural public primary or secondary school located within New York state for five of the seven years after the completion of the degree program and receipt of initial certification; or (c) a recipient fails to complete their degree program or changes majors to an undergraduate degree program other than in primary or secondary education; or (d) a recipient fails to receive or maintain their teaching certificate or license in New York state; or (e) a recipient fails to respond to requests by the corporation for the status of his or her academic or professional progress. The terms and conditions of this subdivision shall be deferred for any interruption in undergraduate or graduate study or employment as established by the rules and regulations of the corporation. Any obligation to comply with such provisions as outlined in this section shall be cancelled upon the death of the recipient. Notwithstanding any provisions of this subdivision to the contrary, the corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to provide for the waiver or suspension of any financial obligation which would involve extreme hardship.
6. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this section, including the criteria for the provision of awards on a competitive basis and the rate of interest charged for repayment of the student loan.
7. For the purposes of this section, a rural public school shall be defined as a public school located in a rural area as defined in subdivision three of section twelve hundred three of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 enacting the New York state rural teaching incentive program
Purpose
To create a new incentive program to encourage elementary and secondary teachers to work in rural school districts.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the Education Law to add a new section 669-I, the New York State Rural Teaching Incentive Program.
This new program is modeled after the successful Math and Science Teach- ing Incentive Program. Within amounts appropriated, the program will grant up to five hundred awards to new recipients per year to eligible applicants. In return for annual payments for successful completion of an academic year, in the amount of the annual tuition charged to state residents attending undergraduate programs, or the actual tuition, students agree to teach at either the elementary or secondary level for five years at a rural school. Like the Math and Science Program, provision is made to convert these payments to school loans if the student fails to meet the requirements of the program.
Section 2: Effective date.
Justification
Rural school districts face difficulties recruiting new teachers. Many students who have not lived in the county are often more attracted to the type of community where they grew up. This bill will encourage more young people studying to be teachers to consider and choose to teach in rural schools, helping these rural communities and the children and families who live there.
Legislative history
2018 - S.7272 - EDUCATION
Fiscal implications
To be determined. Program costs are based upon future appropriations.
Effective date
This act will take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.