Skip to main content
Access, Equity and Community Engagement Services

Access, Equity and Community Engagement Services

Albert Shanker Grant Program

The 2025-2026 Candidate Application Period is Open

Starting on May 29, 2025, the New York State Education Department will accept applications for the

2025-2026 Albert Shanker Grant program. 

Applications will continue to be accepted through February 6, 2026 or until all funds are exhausted, whichever is first.

Information to apply for the grant is listed in the Candidate Application section below

Grant Information  

The Albert Shanker grant was established to defray the costs of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)* certification to eligible New York State public school teachers.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED)  through the Albert Shanker Grant makes funding available to support eligible New York State public school teachers in the following priority order of funding:

  • candidates seeking their first National Board Certification (full funding for all four components), or
  •  retake of one component, or
  • Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

New for 2024: It is no longer required to purchase one component before applying for the grant for candidates seeking their first National Board Certification. The grant supports funding all four components.  If choosing to retake one component or Maintenance of Certification (MOC), the grant supports full funding in the priority of funding listed below. It is not required to purchase the component or the MOC.  Further information may be found in the Albert Shanker grant Candidate FAQ linked below.

  1. National Board Certification is composed of four components. All components must be attempted within a three year period. For information regarding National Board Certification.
     
  2. Candidates for the Albert Shanker Grant must first complete the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Candidate application online.

A. Candidates must also pay the annual NBPTS registration fee.

B. In order to receive the Albert Shanker grant funds, candidates are required to elect to release information to Third Party Payer (TPP).

 (NYSED is the TPP for funding through the grant)

3. Once the NBPTS application has been completed, candidates must apply online for the Albert Shanker grant through NYSED . Please see the Candidate Application section below.

If a candidate is found eligible for and awarded the Albert Shanker Grant, the New York State Education Department will fund the cost of the four components offered by National Board.

** Funding is limited, and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, to eligible candidates in the priority order of funding listed above.

 

 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Albert Shanker Grant, candidates MUST:

  1. be employed as a full-time teacher in a NYS public school;
  2. hold a valid New York State teaching certificate;
  3. hold tenure in his/her current position;
  4. commit to and actually complete the entirety of the initial NBPTS candidacy effort;
  5. continue to be employed as a full-time teacher in a New York public school for at least one full school year following completion of the initial grant period;
  6. apply for NBPTS certification; and
  7. apply for the Albert Shanker Grant.
Candidate Application Process

Candidate Application Instructions 

  1. Candidates  apply for the Albert Shanker Grant by submitting the Albert Shanker Grant Application
  2. Complete Albert Shanker Grant Tenure Attestation
  3. After submitting an application online, candidates are REQUIRED to submit via email the following in order to complete the application process:​<
    • ​​Verification of registration with NBPTS: Scan a copy of the Registration Receipt.
    • Albert Shanker Grant Tenure Attestation
    • In order to receive the Albert Shanker grant funds, candidates are required to elect to release information to Third Party Payer (TPP) on the NBPTS application. (NYSED is the Third Party Payer)
    • New for 2024: No requirement to purchase one component before applying for the grant.  Further information may be found in the Albert Shanker grant Candidate FAQ linked below

Send via email to shankergrant@nysed.gov

IMPORTANT: Component payment.  Please follow the National Board Component Purchase instructions on the link below for "Full Funding" for the NYS Albert Shanker grant.

  1. National Board Component Purchase Instructions
  2. Resource: Applying Third Party Payer Funds
  3. Resource: NYSED Albert Shanker grant Candidate FAQ

Email Verification to:

Email: ShankerGrant@nysed.gov

Note:

Funding is limited, and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, to eligible candidates in the following priority order of funding:

  • candidates seeking their first National Board Certification, or
  • retake of one  component, or
  • Maintenance of Certification.

Candidates who are eligible for the Albert Shanker grant award, have followed the application process listed above and have submitted the required documents will be notified via email by NYSED.
If a candidate is awarded an Albert Shanker Grant and withdraws from the NBPTS process, he/she will not be eligible for a subsequent grant.

Candidate Reimbursement

IMPORTANT 

Candidate reimbursement is open ONLY for candidates who completed the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification in December 2024.

Candidate reimbursement is only for candidates who received the grant prior to the 2024-2025 application period.

Candidate reimbursement occurs after NYSED receives official notification from National Board at the end of the certification cycle.

  • After a candidate completes the NBPTS process, the candidate will be reimbursed for the cost of their first component paid out-of-pocket provided that the candidate did not receive any form of reimbursement for their first component from any other source. 
  • To receive reimbursement, the candidate must submit a written request via email to shankergrant@nysed.gov
  • Include the following:
    • Candidate name the grant was awarded under
    • NBPTS candidate ID number
    • Year the grant was received
  • The candidate will receive a voucher with instructions via email to complete and return the signed documents via USPS mail to the address listed on the instructions. Note it is required to send documents via  USPS mail to be processed. Any documents sent via email cannot be processed.
  • Once the required completed and signed documents are received via USPS mail, a check will be issued from NYSED. This process may take up to 6-8 weeks for completion.

 

Resources:

Contact National Board Customer Support

 For assistance with registration, or  to inquire about deadlines, policies, or the status of your account.

(Be sure to include your candidate ID number in all correspondence with the National Board.)

By phone: 1-800-22TEACH (83224) Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., CST

Online: Submit your question using the: 

National Board Customer Support Web Form

National Board Live Chat

NYSED Albert Shanker Grant Candidate FAQ

Albert Shanker Grant Fact Sheet

Contact NYSED for questions regarding the Albert Shanker grant:

Albert Shanker Grant Program Administrator
Phone: 518-486-2978
Email: shankergrant@nysed.gov

Additional candidate support:

  • National Board Council of New York: nbcny.org

Congratulations to New York State's 2024 NBCTs!

Congratulations to New York State's 2023 NBCTs! April 11, 2024

Congratulations to New York State's 2022 NBCTs!

Congratulations to New York State's 2021 NBCTs!

Congratulations to New York State's  2020 NBCTs!