Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $13.7 million in Workforce Development Awards has been allocated to 12 State University of New York, City University of New York, and private colleges and universities as part of the Education Workforce Investment. Through two programs – the Alternative Teacher Certification Program and the Upskilling Paraprofessionals Program – New York State will expand opportunities for students interested in becoming educators.
“We have a responsibility to ensure our future teachers and paraprofessionals are ready to educate and support the next generation of New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “Through this funding for workforce development programs, we are investing in our educators and creating pathways for our students to pursue a career in the education field.”
Eight grants totaling $9.5 million was awarded under the Alternative Teacher Certification Program and $4.2 million was awarded under the Upskilling Paraprofessionals Program. The grant funding will be used to support projects over the next four years.
The Alternative Teacher Certification Program is a pathway to the teaching profession that may help reduce time and cost barriers for candidates interested in a teaching career. This program provides funding to expand existing alternative teacher certification programs or develop and implement new high-quality, research-based, graduate-level alternative teacher certification programs.
The Upskilling Paraprofessionals Program is for teaching assistants and paraprofessionals who are an essential part of the teacher pipeline given their prior classroom experience and strong connections to the communities they serve. This program provides funding to expand existing programs or to develop and implement new programs that recruit and support teaching assistants and paraprofessionals in obtaining initial teacher certification through a registered baccalaureate-level teacher education program.
The awardees for the two grants are:
Alternative Teacher Certification Program
Adelphi University
Bank Street Graduate School of Education
Brooklyn College, CUNY
SUNY Cortland
Fordham University
Hunter College, CUNY
Manhattanville College
Utica University
Upskilling Paraprofessionals Program
SUNY Cortland
Empire State University, SUNY
Medgar Evers College, CUNY
York College, CUNY
SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, “As New York State’s largest teacher education provider, SUNY is dedicated to preparing the next generation of educators who will inspire students to pursue their dreams. We need more New Yorkers to join the ranks of our teaching profession and thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul, these workforce development grants will have a significant impact on expanding our programs to prepare more excellent diverse future educators.”
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said, “Nearly a quarter of New York State’s classroom teachers hold a CUNY degree, and we are pleased to be able to add these needed programs to further strengthen and diversify our state’s education workforce and expand cost-effective alternative pathways into the field. Educators, including paraprofessionals and teaching assistants, are quiet heroes who help boost academic outcomes. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for these Workforce Development Awards, which will enable CUNY to prepare more graduates to excel in this ever-important space.”
The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities President Lola W. Brabham said, “New York’s Independent Sector of Higher Education looks forward to working with Governor Hochul and our colleagues in the public sector to expand programs and develop solutions to address the critical teacher shortage in New York State, as our member institutions graduate 55 percent of the state’s teachers. We applaud the Governor’s leadership and greatly appreciate the support as our campuses recruit and educate the next generation of teachers.”
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