S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  6080

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              March 4, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CAMARA  --  Multi-Sponsored  by  -- M. of A.
  P. LOPEZ, ROBINSON -- read once  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on
  Consumer Affairs and Protection

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "teachers
  for at-risk schools act"

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
the "teachers for at-risk schools act".
  S 2. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds that:
  (a) schools in high-poverty areas employ fewer well-qualified teachers
than schools in more affluent areas;
  (b)  teachers can make an enormous difference in children's lives, and
the best teachers are needed to meet the enormous challenges in  at-risk
schools; and
  (c)  financial  incentives bring high-quality teachers to high-poverty
areas where they are most needed.
  The legislature hereby enacts this  act  to  improve  the  quality  of
education in at-risk schools.
  S 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3613 to read
as follows:
  S  3613.  TEACHERS  FOR  AT-RISK  SCHOOLS. 1. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER
STATE AID PROVIDED TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE,  THERE
SHALL  BE  PAID BY THE DEPARTMENT TO EACH CLASSROOM TEACHER A BONUS, NOT
TO EXCEED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR, EQUAL TO THE BONUS PAID TO SUCH
TEACHER BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYING THE TEACHER, WHEN  SUCH  CLASS-
ROOM TEACHER:
  A.  TEACHES  IN  A  PUBLIC  SCHOOL THAT IS A LOW PERFORMING SCHOOL, AS
DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED TWELVE OF  THIS
PART, OR IN WHICH MORE THAN SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS QUALIFY
FOR FREE OR SUBSIDIZED SCHOOL LUNCHES; AND

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04064-01-1
              

A. 6080                             2

  B.  IS A NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER, HOLDS A MASTER'S OR DOCTOR-
ATE DEGREE IN EDUCATION OR IN THE SUBJECT THEY TEACH, OR GRADUATED  FROM
AN  INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WITH A GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.5 OR
HIGHER ON A 4.0 SCALE OR ITS EQUIVALENT.
  2.  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYING ANY TEACHER RECEIVING A BONUS PURSU-
ANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION  SHALL  BE  RESPONSIBLE  FOR  THE
PAYMENT OF ANY INCREASE IN THE BENEFIT COSTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SUCH BONUS.
  S  4.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.