Professional Development

Many professional development opportunities are available to new and experienced teachers and teaching assistants (paraprofessionals). These activities are designed to improve the quality of classroom instruction; enable individuals to grow professionally; introduce practitioners to the practical applications of research-validated strategies; and help teachers meet their license and salary differentials. Some of these activities are school-based while others are Citywide.

Office of Teacher Development/Mentoring

Teachers who are new to the teaching profession are assigned to a mentor by the Office of Teacher Development/Mentoring.

Please note: This was formerly known as "New Teacher Induction."

New York City After School Professional Development Program

All teachers are eligible to take "P" In-Service courses from the New York City After School Professional Development Program. In-Service courses offer teachers high-quality, convenient, low-cost alternatives to college courses that may be applied toward salary differentials and New York State professional development requirements. Courses are designed to improve student achievement through the professional development of teachers. Courses are also offered to secretaries for salary advancement.

Please note: Guidance counselors may take only guidance and counseling or special education courses.

Note for school secretaries: An educational differential requires 60 credits from approved colleges, business schools, or “P” In-Service courses.

For the current course catalogue and registration information, click to access the ASPDP System.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Teachers, school secretaries, and paraprofessionals can receive college credits by earning qualifying scores on CLEP tests. Click for more information about CLEP tests.

Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program

The filing period for this year’s scholarship program has begun. The Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program (MGSP), a DCAS program, is an opportunity for full-time New York City government employees (employed by a City agency) with undergraduate degrees to study at accredited colleges/universities in the metropolitan area. Schools fund partial or full graduate scholarships for City government employees through the Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program. The scholarships are for employees' study, on their own, in areas such as business and public administration, policy analysis, law, education, engineering, nursing, public health, computer science, and social work.

Application Filing Period
The filing period is officially open as of September 1st, and the deadline for submitting your application to your Agency Personnel Office (Tene Williams @ 65 Court Street) is Monday, November 23, 2009. Please be advised that award decisions are made for the academic year beginning with the fall 2010 semester. The majority of the schools award scholarships for entire course of study.

Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the program, you must adhere to the following guidelines:

Be a full-time city Government employee
Have obtained your undergraduate degree from an accredited college/university or have completed your undergraduate degree by the Fall of the academic year for which you are applying (applicants already possessing a Master’s degree are eligible)
Remain a full-time City government employee throughout your course of study
Meet the minimum scholarship requirements listed in the Scholarship Offering guide (e.g., the school may require that you be a new entrant to the institution)

How to Apply
Please read the following carefully to ensure a smooth application process:

Read the instruction booklet prior to completing an application
Complete an MGSP application (only available on the DCAS website) and submit it to Tene Williams at 65 Court Street for approval no later than November 23, 2009
Apply directly to a participating college/university (you must be accepted to a participating school before you can be considered for a scholarship)

Links to Important Information
The links listed below provide important step-by-step information detailing the procedures for applying for an MGSP scholarship.

Step One: Fact Sheet (frequently asked questions and answers about the program)
Step Two: Scholarship Offering Guide (indicates the schools and the degree programs participating in MGSP -- information posted in this guide is subject to change without notice)
Step Three: Instruction Booklet (a must-read before completing the application)
Step Four: Application (type all information including name on cover page, attach documentation and print out application with cover page -- photocopies of original application are not acceptable)
Step Five: Sample Letter of Intent (notification of scholarship application)
Step Six: Submit to your Agency Personnel Office by Monday, November 23, 2009

If you have questions, please contact the scholarship program directly at (212) 669-4163.

Information Sessions
Due to the overwhelming interest in the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program, an additional information session is now being offered:

Friday, November 6 – 4:00pm – 5:30pm

This session will be held at 65 Court Street, room 411. To register, please send an e-mail to Tene Williams at Twilliams24@schools.nyc.gov. You will receive a response which will be your confirmation.

Because space is limited, you must be registered and receive a confirmation in order to attend this session. Thank you.

All other sessions (October 22 and November 4) are full to capacity. You can request to be wait-listed for one of those sessions, but there is no guarantee that you will be confirmed.

AED/CPR Training Program

Click for information about the Department of Education's AED/CPR Training Program.

Summer Stipend Program

Paraprofessionals attending and completing six (6) credits/semester hours of study during the summer semester may be eligible to receive a summer stipend. Click for more information about the Summer Stipend Program.

Bilingual Pupil Services Program

The Bilingual Pupil Services Program is open to paraprofessionals who are fluent in English and one of the following languages: Spanish, Chinese or Haitian-Creole.

The Bilingual Pupil Services Program is hosting an Open House event on Monday, January 25, 2010. Click for more information about the BPS Open House event.

Teach NYC Programs

Click for information about financial support available for current and future teachers, paraprofessionals, family workers, and career changers through Teach NYC Programs.

Other Professional Development Opportunities

Click for more information about professional development opportunities provided by each of the following departments.

About Us Academics Choices & Enrollment Schools in the Community Offices & Programs Human Resources Career Opportunities Teachers, Principals, and School Professionals Certification Salary Professional Development Central Administrative and Managerial Employees Health Benefits, Leaves of Absence, Medical Administration, and Safety Retirement Employee Incentives and Discounts DHR Forms and Personnel Memoranda Human Capital Data Rules & Policies Student Support, Safety, and Activities Student Performance & Accountability	Professional Development E-mail to a friend Many professional development opportunities are available to new and experienced teachers and teaching assistants (paraprofessionals). These activities are designed to improve the quality of classroom instruction; enable individuals to grow professionally; introduce practitioners to the practical applications of research-validated strategies; and help teachers meet their license and salary differentials. Some of these activities are school-based while others are Citywide. Office of Teacher Development/Mentoring Teachers who are new to the teaching profession are assigned to a mentor by the Office of Teacher Development/Mentoring. Please note: This was formerly known as "New Teacher Induction." New York City After School Professional Development Program All teachers are eligible to take "P" In-Service courses from the New York City After School Professional Development Program. In-Service courses offer teachers high-quality, convenient, low-cost alternatives to college courses that may be applied toward salary differentials and New York State professional development requirements. Courses are designed to improve student achievement through the professional development of teachers. Courses are also offered to secretaries for salary advancement. Please note: Guidance counselors may take only guidance and counseling or special education courses. Note for school secretaries: An educational differential requires 60 credits from approved colleges, business schools, or “P” In-Service courses. For the current course catalogue and registration information, click to access the ASPDP System. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Teachers, school secretaries, and paraprofessionals can receive college credits by earning qualifying scores on CLEP tests. Click for more information about CLEP tests. Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program The filing period for this year’s scholarship program has begun. The Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program (MGSP), a DCAS program, is an opportunity for full-time New York City government employees (employed by a City agency) with undergraduate degrees to study at accredited colleges/universities in the metropolitan area. Schools fund partial or full graduate scholarships for City government employees through the Mayor's Graduate Scholarship Program. The scholarships are for employees' study, on their own, in areas such as business and public administration, policy analysis, law, education, engineering, nursing, public health, computer science, and social work. Application Filing Period The filing period is officially open as of September 1st, and the deadline for submitting your application to your Agency Personnel Office (Tene Williams @ 65 Court Street) is Monday, November 23, 2009. Please be advised that award decisions are made for the academic year beginning with the fall 2010 semester. The majority of the schools award scholarships for entire course of study. Eligibility To be eligible to apply for the program, you must adhere to the following guidelines: Be a full-time city Government employee Have obtained your undergraduate degree from an accredited college/university or have completed your undergraduate degree by the Fall of the academic year for which you are applying (applicants already possessing a Master’s degree are eligible) Remain a full-time City government employee throughout your course of study Meet the minimum scholarship requirements listed in the Scholarship Offering guide (e.g., the school may require that you be a new entrant to the institution) How to Apply Please read the following carefully to ensure a smooth application process: Read the instruction booklet prior to completing an application Complete an MGSP application (only available on the DCAS website) and submit it to Tene Williams at 65 Court Street for approval no later than November 23, 2009 Apply directly to a participating college/university (you must be accepted to a participating school before you can be considered for a scholarship) Links to Important Information The links listed below provide important step-by-step information detailing the procedures for applying for an MGSP scholarship. Step One: Fact Sheet (frequently asked questions and answers about the program) Step Two: Scholarship Offering Guide (indicates the schools and the degree programs participating in MGSP -- information posted in this guide is subject to change without notice) Step Three: Instruction Booklet (a must-read before completing the application) Step Four: Application (type all information including name on cover page, attach documentation and print out application with cover page -- photocopies of original application are not acceptable) Step Five: Sample Letter of Intent (notification of scholarship application) Step Six: Submit to your Agency Personnel Office by Monday, November 23, 2009 If you have questions, please contact the scholarship program directly at (212) 669-4163. Information Sessions Due to the overwhelming interest in the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program, an additional information session is now being offered: Friday, November 6 – 4:00pm – 5:30pm This session will be held at 65 Court Street, room 411. To register, please send an e-mail to Tene Williams at Twilliams24@schools.nyc.gov. You will receive a response which will be your confirmation. Because space is limited, you must be registered and receive a confirmation in order to attend this session. Thank you. All other sessions (October 22 and November 4) are full to capacity. You can request to be wait-listed for one of those sessions, but there is no guarantee that you will be confirmed. AED/CPR Training Program Click for information about the Department of Education's AED/CPR Training Program. Summer Stipend Program Paraprofessionals attending and completing six (6) credits/semester hours of study during the summer semester may be eligible to receive a summer stipend. Click for more information about the Summer Stipend Program. Bilingual Pupil Services Program The Bilingual Pupil Services Program is open to paraprofessionals who are fluent in English and one of the following languages: Spanish, Chinese or Haitian-Creole. The Bilingual Pupil Services Program is hosting an Open House event on Monday, January 25, 2010. Click for more information about the BPS Open House event. Teach NYC Programs Click for information about financial support available for current and future teachers, paraprofessionals, family workers, and career changers through Teach NYC Programs. Other Professional Development Opportunities Click for more information about professional development opportunities provided by each of the following departments. The Division of Teaching & Learning The Integrated Service Center (ISC) The Office of Accountability, the Office of School & Youth Development (OSYD), or the Office of Teacher Development: New Teacher Induction.	Contacts HR Connect 65 Court Street, Room 102 Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 935-4000 News Principal's Online Per Session Activity Approval Requests - Now Available for School Based Programs Only Teaching Opportunities in New Schools: Positions are available in brand new small schools. Updated Sabbatical Memorandum for the 2009-2010 School Year For Principals Only: direct access to Human Resources Reports & Systems > more