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)
Recruitment Incentive Program (TOT1)
The Teachers of Tomorrow Recruitment Incentive Program offers eligible newly hired teachers $3,400 for each year of service for their first four years in a high-need school, totaling up to $13,600.
Teachers of Tomorrow is available in different schools each year (view a list of TOT schools for the 2010-11 school year).
If you were hired in an eligible school at the start of the 2010-11 school year, you will be notified directly in the spring of 2011about the process for applying for the Teachers of Tomorrow recruitment incentive program. Please note that awards are paid in the early fall after you complete a full year of service in a TOT school. If you receive an award in your first year of teaching for the NYC DOE, you may be eligible to receive the grant for up to three additional consecutive years, as long as you remain in an eligible school.
Learn more about the eligibility requirements for new teachers who would like to take advantage of the Teachers of Tomorrow program. Participants in programs where the DOE provides financial assistance in obtaining certification, including the Success Via Apprenticeship program, the scholarship program and some alternative certification and teacher residency programs, are not eligible to participate in the Teachers of Tomorrow recruitment incentive program.
Tuition Reimbursement Program (TOT2)
Teachers who were hired prior to the 2010-11 school year are currently working in a TOT school (see list above), have not benefited from TOT1 in the past and are working toward their first master's degree may be eligible for the Teachers of Tomorrow Tuition Reimbursement Program (TOT2). For more information about TOT2, visit the Teacher Hiring Support Center website.
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.
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