BILL NUMBER: S2838

SPONSOR: BRESLIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the New York state
masters-in-education teacher incentive scholarship program

 
PURPOSE:

This bill will align the Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholar-
ship Program with other state scholarship programs allowing students to
choose the college or university with the academic program and approach
that benefits them most.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Provides access to Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive
Scholarship Programs awards to students who are matriculated in an
approved master's degree in Education program at a New York State post-
secondary institution.

              

Section 2: Effective date

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2018, New York passed the Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive
Scholarship Program offers awards in amount up to the annual tuition
charged at a SUNY or CUNY institution for 500 New York State residents
seeking to become masters' educated teachers. Currently, these award
recipients must enroll in full time study in an approved master's degree
in education program at a New York State public institution of higher
education, leading to a career as a teacher in public elementary or
secondary education in New York State.

The current program does not leverage all of New York's higher education
assets in bolstering the State's teacher workforce. This bill would
ensure that the program's eligibility operates similar to other scholar-
ship programs where the funding follows the student.

Currently 70 private colleges and universities confer 61 percent of the
State's bachelor and graduate education degrees. In addition, the exist-
ing scholarship is not being fully used by SUNY and CUNY students, with
only $989,000 of the $3 million in aid given for this scholarship being
utilized. Allowing private, not-for-profit colleges to participate would
not come at an additional cost to New York State or at the expense of
SUNY or CUNY students.

Private colleges and universities are leaders in educating teachers and
are anchor tenants in their communities. Many educate large numbers and
proportions of New York State resident students, often students from the
immediate region. Once graduated, these students fill critical positions
in public school across the State. New York students should be able to
benefit from the Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship
Program regardless of where they choose to attend college.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021: 58762 - Referred to Higher Education
2019: A.2404/S.5985 - Vetoed by Governor

2018: A.9602/S.7237 - Held for consideration in Higher Education Commit-
tee

2017: A.5910-C/S.2482-C - Vetoed by Governor

2016: S.5512A/A.7727A- Passed Senate

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

The Master's-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship Program is esti-
mated to cost $1.5 million. The New York State Higher Education Services
Corporation (HESC) announced at is May 6, 2015 Board Meeting that this
scholarship program will not be implemented until the 2018-19 academic
year, therefore, this bill have no cost in the current year.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.