Relates to access to statewide teacher support and retention programs

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Otis and 1 co-sponsor

Extends access to statewide teacher support and retention programs to teachers in covered special education schools, promoting equity and inclusion across funded settings.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Summary of A.10040 (2025-2026) – Relates to access to statewide teacher support and retention programs

Purpose and intent

Establishes inclusive access to statewide teacher support and retention programs for teachers employed by “covered schools” (schools or preschools receiving funding under New York’s special education framework).

Aims to remove barriers by ensuring such teachers can participate in state-administered programs that recruit, prepare, certify, mentor, retain, and recognize teachers, as well as provide financial incentives and leadership opportunities.

Key definitions

Covered school: A school or preschool that receives funding under New York’s article for special education.

Teacher support and retention program: Any statewide initiative, policy, funding stream, or award program overseen by the education department, Regents, SUNY, or other state educational entities. Eligible activities include:

Recruitment into teaching
Support for preparation, certification, licensure
Professional development, mentorship, continuing education
Recognition of excellence and teacher leadership
Retention efforts in high-need, underserved, or hard-to-staff schools or subjects
Promotion of diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness
Financial or career-based incentives (scholarships, stipends, housing assistance, loan forgiveness, tuition reimbursement, wage supplements)

Examples of programs listed include the Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC), Empire State Excellence in Teaching Awards, the New York State Master Teacher Program, and other successors.

Eligibility and access

Section 2 requires that all teachers employed by a covered school are deemed eligible participants in statewide teacher support and retention programs.

Eligibility cannot be denied or conditioned solely because a teacher works for a non-district school, a non-public school, or a program contracted with a public agency.

Implementation and timeline

Section 3 mandates the Commissioner to act within 120 days of the act’s effective date:

Update rules, regulations, procedures, and eligibility to include teachers from covered schools.
Ensure application materials and outreach clearly include these teachers.
Provide technical assistance and outreach to covered schools to promote access.
Include input from covered schools in advisory, design, or evaluation activities.

Section 4 provides a special provision:

A program may limit eligibility to public district teachers only if a good-faith review shows inclusion is not legally or operationally feasible due to statutory restrictions, contractual obligations, or inherently district-specific design.
Any such determination must be publicly posted on the department’s website and reported in writing to the chairs of the Senate and Assembly Education Committees within 30 days.

Practical impact

Broadens participation in statewide teacher support and retention initiatives to educators in funded special education settings, promoting equity across different school types.

Establishes a formal process for inclusion with transparency around exclusions.

Encourages alignment of state programs with the needs of teachers in covered schools, potentially improving recruitment, retention, and professional development for educators serving students with special education needs.

Effective date

The act is stated to take effect immediately upon enactment.