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Pictured: Marilyn Lance of West Sand Lake Elementary, who was named NYS Teacher of the Year in 2000, receives an apple from Senator Bruno at today's announcement
Tuesday, February 6, 2001
Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno today unveiled "TEACH-2," a far-reaching package of pension and other financial incentives aimed at keeping experienced and qualified teachers in the classroom and reversing a worsening teacher shortage in the state's public schools.
TEACH-2 builds on the Senate Majority's 2000 "TEACH" proposal and "Teachers of Tomorrow" -- Gov. Pataki's plan enacted to provide recruitment incentives for new teachers -- by encouraging senior, more experienced teachers to defer their retirement and remain in the classroom, where they can continue to teach and also serve as mentors to younger, less experiences colleagues.
More than half of New York teachers will be eligible to retire over the next decade. TEACH-2 includes pension incentives to encourage the mid-career teachers to remain in the classroom while adding to their pension benefits.
"New York schools are facing a teacher shortage crisis that threatens the quality of education and enrichment for our children," said Senator Bruno (R-C, Brunswick). "We have already made great strides in addressing this problem through last year's enactment of TEACH and Gov. Pataki's 'Teachers of Tomorrow' program. This initiative builds on that plan to provide additional incentives to keep the very best teachers in our classrooms."
TEACH-2's principal thrust is on retaining good, experienced teachers. It also includes additional financial incentives for new teachers that complement TEACH and "Teachers of Tomorrow," including a waiver of the state's Teacher Certification fee and scholarship grants to reward teachers who have gained national accreditation.
Key provisions of TEACH-2 include:
KEEPING EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
STAY -- Senior Teacher Allowance Years
Provides additional service credit to retirement-eligible teachers if they agree to remain in the classroom for three additional years. Eligible teachers would receive an additional month of credit for each year they were in the retirement system.
For example, a 55-year-old teacher with 30 years experience would receive an extra 30 months of service credit. New York previously has offered incentives to encourage early retirement, but
TEACH-2 marks the first-ever proposal for a retirement deferral bonus.
START -- State Teacher Attraction and Retention
Eliminates the retirement penalty for out-of-state, mid-career teachers who transferred to New York schools, and those previously employed in nonpublic schools, by allowing them to purchase pension credits for their earlier service.
Salary Earnings Waiver
Allows retired teachers to reenter the teaching workforce by eliminating the pensioner's earnings cap. Right now, retirees lose part of their pension if they earn more than $18,500 a year. The Senate plan also gives more flexibility to school districts to hire back retired teachers in areas where they are most needed.
ATTRACTING AND RETAINING QUALITY TEACHERS
National Certification Grants
Provides $3,400 bonuses for five years to teachers who successfully complete the rigorous National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification program.
Under "Teachers of Tomorrow," teachers with national certification are eligible to become "Master Teachers" in low-performing schools and earn $10,000 bonuses for three years. There are currently 104 nationally certified teachers in New York, compared to nearly 2,400 in North Carolina.
Waiver of Certification Fees
Public school teachers in New York State must pay to become state-certified, even if they already have been licensed in another state. TEACH-2 would waive these fees for first-time applicants, saving novice and out-of-state teachers $3.6 million a year, to entice them into the classroom. The Governor has proposed similar fee waivers for other professions in his current Executive Budget.
Teacher of the Year Awards
For 30 years, New York has recognized its very best teachers through this annual award. TEACH-2 would add a $10,000 cash bonus and "Master Teacher" designation to this prestigious honor, providing even more incentive for teachers to excel in their work.
"Student performance that prepares our children for the future is directly tied to the quality of teachers in the classroom," Senator Bruno said. "TEACH-2 will help ensure that our classrooms are staffed with the brightest and most experienced teachers we can find so that our children get the quality education they deserve."
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