S 5608: Establishes a New York state English as a new language teaching assistance program for certain undergraduate and/or graduate students in a program leading to a career as a teacher in primary or secondary education.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5608 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 25, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. ASHBY, HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a New York state English as a new language teaching assistance program The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 669-i 2 to read as follows: 3 § 669-i. New York state English as a new language teaching assistance 4 program. 1. Undergraduate and/or graduate students who are matriculated 5 in an approved undergraduate or graduate program at a degree granting 6 institution leading to a career as a teacher in primary or secondary 7 education shall be eligible for an award under this section, provided 8 the applicant: (a) register for and pass a bilingual education assess- 9 ment exam; (b) completes a minimum of forty school days in a college-su- 10 pervised student teaching experience under the instruction of an English 11 as a new language teacher and in a school located within New York state 12 providing primary or secondary education recognized by the board of 13 regents or the university of the state of New York; and (c) complies 14 with the applicable provisions of this article and all requirements 15 promulgated by the corporation for the administration of the program. 16 2. Within amounts appropriated therefor, awards shall be granted to 17 applicants that the corporation has certified are eligible to receive 18 such awards. Such awards shall be made to recipients after the success- 19 ful completion of requirements, as defined by the corporation. 20 3. Recipients shall receive a payment equal to the annual tuition 21 charged to state resident students attending an undergraduate program 22 full-time at the state university of New York, or actual tuition 23 charged, whichever is less. 24 4. Recipients shall be authorized to count the forty school days 25 required under paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this section towards EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08921-01-5 
 S. 5608 2 1 their necessary teaching experience hours for New York state teacher 2 certificates. 3 5. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations 4 necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this section, 5 including exploring whether more frequent bilingual education assessment 6 exam periods can be offered. 7 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.