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Teachers

Professional certificates in all classroom teaching titles and all School Leader titles, as well as the Level III Teaching Assistant certificate must be maintained through continuing professional development.   Public school districts and BOCES are responsible for planning and providing appropriate professional development for holders of Professional and Teaching Assistant III certificates, as for all teachers, as part of the district’s professional development plan.

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 through the Albert Shanker Grant makes funding available to support eligible New York State public school teachers seeking their first National Board Certification.

New York State also offers an alternative preparation model aimed at mature, second career professionals. Alternative programs are offered by colleges with local school partners. They feature an accelerated introductory component, followed by paid employment, with extensive mentoring, coursework and other supports from the college and school district.

Education Law §310 provides that persons considering themselves aggrieved by an action taken at a school district meeting or by school authorities may appeal to the Commissioner of Education for a review of such action. A §310 appeal must be initiated within 30 days of the decision or action complained of, unless the delay is excused by the Commissioner for good cause shown in the petition.

To help provide a broad range of services to New York State residents who, because of academic and economic circumstances, would otherwise be unable to attend a postsecondary educational institution.

The Federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act (Perkins IV / CTEA) provides funds to postsecondary institutions, preparing students to be more competitive in the world economy.

"Search Certification Requirements" is an online search feature that allows you to identify the specific requirements you must meet for any given certificate.

View the New York State certification status of individual teachers, school administrators, and pupil personnel professionals.

The list of cities, towns and villages in New York State is based on 1998 data from the NYS Department of Transportation and the NYS Office of Real Property Services.

The purpose is to increase the number of students from under-represented groups who are pursuing professional licensure and careers in mathematics, science, technology and health-related fields.

The Framework for Teaching is designed to help districts promote a common definition and understanding of excellence in teaching, one that everyone—teachers, administrators, and the larger community—can easily comprehend. Charlotte Danielson developed the Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument in 2011 and further enhanced it in 2013 to facilitate evaluations, and consequently has enhanced the language of her original Framework throughout to be as clear as possible. In addition, beginning with the 2011 Edition, she added critical attributes and possible examples of teaching at each performance level for each component. The definitions and expectations for each domain and component within each performance level are clear and precise, intentionally designed to be understood by all, regardless of role, position, or experience level.

Driver & Traffic Safety Education in New York State schools is a course implemented via a joint partnership between the New York State Education Department (NYSED), and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

This section provides individuals, school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) with information on the State fingerprinting requirement. New York State law requires that the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability conduct fingerprint supported criminal history background checks for applicants for certification and all prospective employees of school districts, charter schools and BOCES.  The side links provide information about the law and will guide you through the fingerprint process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Certification are commonly asked questions from applicants seeking Teacher, School Leader, or School Personnel certification in New York State.

The text emphasizes the design, and the architecture and construction, of the Iroquois longhouse as it appeared 400 years ago, and before European influence drastically changed the Iroquois culture. The intention is to present Iroquois technology as it was before the influx of Europeans. The design of the longhouse reflects the social organization within Iroquois culture. Its architecture and construction are adapted to the raw materials available to the Iroquois in their immediate surroundings, and to the tools and technology in their possession.

School-based service-learning combines meaningful service to the community with classroom studies in a way that improves student learning and strengthens the community. Students work in collaboration with community members, teachers, and classmates to meet real community needs, while learning more about math, science, language arts, social studies, and other subjects, as well as civic responsibility and effective citizenship.

The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) was established in 1988 under Section 612, Subdivision 6 of the Education Law to address the significant dropout rate among New York’s youth.

These awards provide recognition of a teacher and a citizen who have made outstanding contributions to New York State education about the Holocaust and other violations of human rights.

The Mentor Teacher-Internship Program (MTIP) is subject to annual funding by the New York State Legislature, this program supports eligible public school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in developing and providing structured guidance and assistance by experienced, highly qualified teachers (mentors) to beginning teachers (interns) in their first or second year of teaching.

A teacher who holds a certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) may obtain a New York State certificate in a comparable title through the National Board Pathway.

The New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) is a part of the New York State Testing Program. Starting with the 2013-14 administration, the NYSAA is based on a new test design with requirements that reflect the updated assessment. The NYSAA is a datafolio-style assessment in which students with severe cognitive disabilities demonstrate their performance toward achieving the New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards in English language arts and mathematics. In addition, this assessment measures the New York State Learning Standards and Core Curriculum in science and social studies. Eligibility for participation in NYSAA is determined by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) according to criteria described in the Administrators' Manual. Student performance is recorded through direct observation and documentation and may include other information such as student work products, photographs, audio and videotapes. Students must be assessed once a year beginning in the school year they become 9 years old through the school year they become 14 (grade equivalents 3-8). The secondary level NYSAA is administered during the school year they become 17-18 years of age (high school).

The New York State Archives was established in 1971 and opened its doors to the public in 1978. It is a program of the State Education Department, with its main facility located in the Cultural Education Center on Madison Avenue in Albany. There it cares for and provides access to more than 200 million documents that tell the story of New York from the seventeenth century to the present.

From its main facility, it also administers statewide programs that reach out to state agencies, local governments and community organizations.

Archives staff are located in nine regional offices around the State to address the archives and records management concerns of every area of the State.

The New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) are internationally-benchmarked and evidence-based standards. These standards serve as a consistent set of expectations for what students should learn and be able to do, so that we can ensure that every student across New YorkState is on track for college and career readiness. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) will continue to develop educator resources to support the successful implementation of the CCLS in classrooms across New York State over the next several years.

The New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) is designed to annually assess the English proficiency of all English language learners enrolled in Grades K–12 in New York State schools. The exam gives the State and schools important information about the English language development of English language learners (ELLs), and is part of the State's compliance with federal laws that mandate the annual assessing and tracking of English proficiency of English language learners.

The Library serves three major constituencies:

The Research Library, which was established in 1818, collects, preserves and makes available materials that support State government work. The Library's collections, now numbering over 20 million items, may also be used by other researchers on-site, online and via interlibrary loan.

The Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) lends braille and recorded books and magazines, and related equipment to residents of the 55 upstate counties of New York State who are unable to read printed materials because of a visual or physical disability.

The Division of Library Development works in partnership with 73 library systems to bring library services to the millions of people who use New York's academic, public, school and special libraries. Library Development also administers State and Federal grant programs that provide aid for library services.

The New York State Museum serves the lifelong educational needs of New Yorkers and visitors through its collections, exhibitions, scholarship, programs, media and publications in science, history, anthropology, and art. The Museum explores and expresses New York State’s significant natural and cultural diversity, past and present.

Summer residential programs for high school students which provide intensive pre-professional training with internationally acclaimed artists and artistic companies.

A person may complete a teacher education program in a New York college or university and be recommended for a certificate provided that program has been registered by the Department as leading to the designated certificate.

The NYS P-TECH program is a public-private partnership that will prepare thousands of New York students for high-skills jobs of the future in technology, manufacturing, healthcare and finance.

The State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching is a 28 member board that serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education on matters related to teaching in New York State.

New York State Regents Exams in PDF format, some going back as far as the 1930s, are part of the Library's Digital Collections.

Regents exams administered after 1998

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) identify, nationwide, outstanding teachers in mathematics and science.

Reference tables for:

  • Physical Setting/Chemistry
  • Physical Setting/Earth Science
  • Physical Setting/Physics

"Search Certification Requirements" is an online search feature that allows you to identify the specific requirements you must meet for any given certificate.

Pending the appropriation of State funds by the New York State Legislature, 8,000 scholarships will be awarded for students graduating in 2015.  Of the 8,000 scholarships, 2,000 scholarships will have a value of $1,500 each and 6,000 scholarships will have a value of $500 each.

STEP provides academic enrichment in science and mathematics content areas.

Allows designated school district personnel to create and manage User Ids and passwords for their own employees.

The Office of Special Education works to promote educational equity and excellence for students with disabilities through its roles and responsibilities to:

  • oversee the implementation of federal and State laws and policy for students with disabilities.
  • provide general supervision and monitoring of all public and private schools serving New York State preschool and school-age students with disabilities.
  • establish a broad network of technical assistance centers and providers to work directly with parents and school districts to provide current information and high quality professional development and technical assistance to improve results for students with disabilities.
  • ensure a system of due process, including special education mediation and impartial hearings.
  • meet with stakeholders through the Commissioner's Advisory Panel for Special Education Services.

The State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching is a 28 member board that serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education on matters related to teaching in New York State.

The TEACH system is an online service for various customers (applicants, college administrators, school and district administrators, school employers, and agencies) to perform various functions (apply for certification and fingerprinting, check application status, submit professional development hours, assist in school administrator functions, etc.) regarding teacher, school leader, and school personnel certification and school employment.

The TEACH system is designed for various users to perform various functions regarding teacher certification and fingerprinting.  You may access information based upon the role you hold.  We have two types of accounts created to address these various roles: the PERSONAL ACCOUNT (applicant) and the ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNT (college administrators, school and district administrators, and agencies).

New York State requires that all teachers, school leaders (administrators), and pupil personnel service providers who are employed or wish to become employed in the State’s public schools hold a New York State certificate.

There are 3 license levels for teachers licensed by BPSS listed below. To apply for a Permit, Provisional, or Full license, you must complete an application and supply BPSS with all necessary documentation required for the level and license area(s) in which you wish to be licensed.

Tenured educators have the right to retain their positions and may only be terminated if there is “just cause” pursuant to Education Law §3020.

New York State is a great place to teach. Our schools offer competitive compensation and the opportunity to be part of a revitalized educational system. Teacher preparation programs are aligned with K-12 student learning standards.  All school districts provide professional development programs.

New York has more than 3 million students in over 4,500 schools. With large and small cities, rural and suburban districts, New York offers diverse opportunities to teachers.

Adopted in January, 2011, the New York State Teaching Standards cover the following items:

  1. Knowledge of Students and Student Learning
  2. Knowledge of Content and Instructional Planning
  3. Instructional Practice
  4. Learning Environment
  5. Assessment for Student Learning
  6. Professional Responsibilities and Collaboration
  7. Professional Growth

New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.

Provisional, Initial, or Transitional certificate holders who are unable to secure employment as a teacher or having been pursuing a career other than teaching, may qualify for a time extension of their provisional, initial, or transitional certificate within 6 months of their certificate expiration date.

Each school district is required to submit Violent and Disruptive Incident Reports (VADIR) for each school building on an annual basis. Information on this page provides links to VADIR data reported by the schools, and provides resource documents to help school staff complete the necessary forms.

The original World Trade Center featured landmark twin towers, which opened on April 4, 1973, and were destroyed in the September 11 attacks of 2001.

At the time of their completion, the original 1 World Trade Center (the North Tower) and 2 World Trade Center (the South Tower), known jointly as the "Twin Towers", were the tallest buildings in the world.