Financial Incentives
In recognition of the challenges of teaching in our highest-need schools, the New York City Department of Education offers financial incentives to teachers who take on challenging assignments.
Student Loan Repayment for Top Tier Graduates
Mayor Bloomberg has announced that top tier college graduates who come to teach in NYC may have up to $25,000 of their student loans paid off. More details on this opportunity will be available shortly. The first step in this process is to apply to be a teacher in NYC for the 2012-13 school year. If you are interested in teaching in our schools but do not have certification we recommend you consider applying to our NYC Teaching Fellows program at http://www.nycteachingfellows.org/.
Teachers of Tomorrow (TOT)
In recognition of the demands of teaching in our highest-need schools, the New York City Department of Education offers financial incentives to teachers who take on challenging assignments. Teachers of Tomorrow is a state-funded grant intended to provide recruitment incentives (TOT1) and tuition reimbursement (TOT2) to teachers working in the City’s highest need schools. If you are currently teaching in a NYC district school, you may be eligible for a TOT award.
Learn more and check your eligibility status for both programs:
To verify participating locations, please review the current list of 2011-2012 TOT schools.
Please note: The availability of Teachers of Tomorrow programs is contingent upon funding by the New York State Education Department each year. Current year eligibility or prior year participation in the program does not guarantee an award.
Lead Teacher Program
The Lead Teacher program supports teachers who assume a leadership role within their school. A Lead Teacher spends half of their time in the classroom and the remaining half of their time providing professional development to other teachers. More than 100 schools throughout the City currently participate in the program. Learn more about the details and eligibility requirements for the Lead Teacher program.
The 2012 Lead Teacher application is now closed. Information on applying for the 2013-2014 school year will be posted in the spring of 2013.
Federal Loan Forgiveness/Deferral
New teachers serving in low income schools or shortage subject areas may be eligible for federal programs that cancel or defer some Perkins, Stafford, and Direct loans.
Scholarship and New York City Loan Forgiveness
The Scholarship Program offers selected individuals an opportunity to pursue a master's or bachelor's degree in specified bilingual and monolingual areas of education and pupil personnel services. A full scholarship is offered in exchange for a service commitment.
The Loan Forgiveness Program offers the repayment of student loans to new teachers and clinicians who have obtained New York State certification in specified shortage areas.
Currently, scholarships and loan forgiveness are available for the following critical teaching shortage areas:
- Bilingual special education
- Monolingual and bilingual visually impaired
In addition, scholarships and loan forgiveness are available in the following speech and clinical school positions:
- Monolingual and bilingual speech and hearing handicapped
- Bilingual school counseling, psychology, and social work