What's happening
This bill creates a loan forgiveness program for child care professionals in New York, offering up to $25,000 for five years of service.
Why it matters
Addresses the child care workforce shortage. By directly tying loan forgiveness to service as a child care professional, the bill aims to attract and retain more qualified workers in a field facing chronic labor shortages, which could improve the quality and availability of child care in New York.
Targets recent graduates with student debt. The program is specifically for New York residents who have graduated from approved higher education institutions and have outstanding student loans, helping reduce financial barriers for individuals considering entering or remaining in child care careers.
Provides incremental, performance-based incentives. Loan forgiveness is disbursed in equal annual installments over five years, rewarding sustained commitment and discouraging quick turnover—potentially leading to greater continuity of care for children and stability for employers.
May be combined with other financial aid. The bill allows recipients to also apply for other state awards, maximizing potential financial support for those dedicating themselves to early childhood education, which could make the profession more financially viable for more people.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Forgive Child Care Student Loans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Forgive Child Care Student Loans
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Jessica Ramos
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
241
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, LUPARDO, PEOPLES-STOKES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating the child care professionals loan forgiveness incentive program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 605 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 13 to read as follows:
13. New York state child care professionals loan forgiveness incentive program. a. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan forgiveness awards for the purpose of increasing the number of child care professionals employed in New York state. Such awards shall be made on a competitive basis to applicants who have graduated from an institution of higher education approved or registered by the regents.
b. Eligibility. (1) To be eligible to receive an award pursuant to this subdivision, an applicant must be a resident of New York state who has graduated from an institution of higher education and has an outstanding student loan debt.
(2) Such awards shall be made annually to eligible applicants who, prior to accepting such awards, engaged in twelve months of service as a child care professional in a child day care facility licensed or registered pursuant to the social services law or the administrative code of the city of New York and such awards shall not exceed an amount of twenty-five thousand dollars and shall be made to such applicants, pursuant to the following schedule:
(i) twenty percent to be awarded upon the completion of the first year;
(ii) twenty percent to be awarded upon the completion of the second year;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00676-01-5
(iii) twenty percent to be awarded upon the completion of the third year;
(iv) twenty percent to be awarded upon the completion of the fourth year; and
(v) twenty percent to be awarded upon the completion of the fifth year.
(3) Recipients of such awards shall be eligible to apply for other awards established under this chapter.
c. Duration. Such awards shall be made annually, for no more than five years, to applicants who remain eligible under this subdivision and who are certified as such by the corporation.
d. Amount. The corporation shall grant such awards within the amounts appropriated for such purpose and based on the availability of funds in an amount not to exceed the total cost of the completion of such degree programs. Cost of completion of such degrees shall include: tuition at an institution of higher education approved or registered by the regents and other required or reasonable student fees.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.