NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7727A
SPONSOR: Fahy 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 OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill will align the Masters-in-
Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship Program with other state schol-
arship programs allowing students to choose the college or university
with the academic program and approach that benefits them most.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1. Provides access to
Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship Programs awards to
students at non-profit institutions of higher education, as defined
under section 2 of the education law.
JUSTIFICATION: The recently passed Masters-in-Education Teacher Incen-
tive Scholarship Program offers awards in amount up to the annual
tuition charged at a state university of New York State-operated insti-
tution 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 bach-
elor and graduate education degrees.
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.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: The recently passed Master's-in-Education Teacher
Incentive Scholarship Program is estimated to cost $1.5 million. The New
York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) announced at its
May 6, 2015 Board Meeting that this scholarship program will not be
implemented until the 2016-17 academic year, therefore, this bill have
no cost in the current year.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.
