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The Career Training Program

 

The Career Training Program (CTP) provides eligible UFT paraprofessionals with the opportunity to earn their first Bachelor's degree. The program pays tuition for 3 to 6 credits per semester for undergraduate study at a participating college or university. Program participants that are registered for and actively taking five (5) or more credit hours are eligible for two and a half (2.5) hours per week of Release Time to support study. Participating paraprofessionals may also apply for a Summer Stipend to support study. Paraprofessionals are responsible for researching, applying, and enrolling in an approved participating college or university.

 

ELIGIBILITY:

 

To be eligible for the CTP Program, the candidate must:

 

• Be a full-time paraprofessional employed in a NYC public school who has not yet earned a Bachelor's degree.
• Be payrolled as a full-time paraprofessional at the time of application filing and remain appointed as a full-time paraprofessional  for the remainder of the application school year.
• Show proof of mandatory matriculation into a degree-bearing program after completion of 45 credits.
• Substitute Paraprofessionals are not eligible to participate in the CTP Program.
• The Career Training Program is limited to 120 credits to be paid on behalf of the paraprofessional towards completing the first Bachelor's degree program. Exceptions will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
• Note: The 120 credits represents the total credit count, which includes all transfer credits and credits taken before program participation. If you start the program with 0 credits, we will pay up to 120 credits. If you start the program with credits, we will pay the difference (120-X credits).
• Paraprofessionals must have a 2.0 grade point average or greater to be eligible for the program. 
• Paraprofessionals must maintain a "C" grade point average (2.0) to remain eligible to participate in the program.
• Paraprofessionals that drop below a 2.0-grade point average will not be eligible for the CTP Voucher.
• The NYC Public Schools will NOT pay for courses with "F" grades, late withdrawals, or unofficial withdrawals.
• Paraprofessionals that are no longer eligible to participate in the Career Training Program are financially responsible for paying all course credits, tuition, and applicable fees.

 

FINANCIAL AID:

 

Financial aid will cover any tuition-related expenses for paraprofessionals who benefit from the Federal Pell Grant or the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grant.  The attending college/university will bill the NYC Public Schools for the difference between tuition owed and the amount of tuition assistance received. The NYCPS will not pay for course materials or other fees the college charges. The NYCPS will not pay activity, application, technology, and any other fees charged by the college or university; this will be the paraprofessional's responsibility.

APPLICATION AVAILABILITY:

• _{Fall Semester – May 1^st through June 30^th} 
• Spring Semester – September 1^st through October 31^st 
• Summer Semester – February 1^st through March 31^st 

NOTE: An application must be submitted for each semester (fall, spring, and summer). Unused vouchers may not be applied to a previous or upcoming semester.

 

CTP Fact Sheet	Click Here
CTP FAQ Document	Click Here
CTP UFT Paraprofessional Release Time Memo	Click Here
CTP DC-37 Paraprofessional Release Time Memo	Click Here
CTP Brochure	Click Here
Approved Colleges and Universities	Click Here
Summer Stipend Fact Sheet	Click Here
Summer Stipend Application	Click Here
CTP Voucher - University/College Name Change Form	Click Here
CTP Sample Confirmation Email	Click Here

IMPORTANT - Effective immediately: 

• To ensure that you receive your email confirmation and voucher, applicants must utilize their NYCPS email address. The Teacher Support Network (TSN) system will no longer accept email addresses from other domains. 
• To update or change your voucher's college or university name, you must download and submit the completed CTP Voucher - University/College Name Change Form (listed above). Please allow 48 hours for your request to be processed.
  
• Applicants will receive a confirmation email within 24-48 hours after applying for the Career Training Program. 
  

APPLY HERE

 

For detailed instructions on how to apply for the Career Training Program Voucher, review our CTP Application Guide.

 

You will receive an email confirmation once your application has been successfully submitted. If you do not receive an email, your application was not submitted, and you will need to re-submit your application.

 

If you require further information, please email CareerTraining@schools.nyc.gov or call us at (718) 935-2449.

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PARAPROFESSIONAL STUDENT TEACHING LEAVE OF ABSENCE PROGRAM

The NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) provides eligible paraprofessionals with a 40-day paid leave of absence to complete student teaching requirements through this program. There are instances when colleges and universities will not accept work as a Paraprofessional in place of student teaching. The NYCPS will provide a 40-day paid leave of absence to complete student teaching requirements. The number of leaves per year will not exceed 100 (50 leaves for the fall and 50 leaves for the spring). These particular leaves of absence are by application only. Applicants must receive approval before they can begin their leave of absence.

Please read the document below to learn more about the PSTLOA Program and see the required documents.

• All pertinent documents must be received at least four (4) weeks before the requested leave of absence date.
• Student Teaching Leave of Absence applications are provided annually on a limited basis during the fall and spring only.
• Eligible paraprofessionals must be payrolled as a full-time paraprofessional at the time of application filing and remain appointed as a full-time paraprofessional for the remainder of the application school year. 
• Leaves will be granted by the severity of the need, with priority given to paraprofessionals who have already graduated from initial teacher education programs.
• This program allows up to 40 days of student teaching. Applicants can only apply to the Student Teaching Leave of Absence program one time only.  
• For a leave of absence extending beyond the approval period, the applicant must apply for an unpaid extended Leave of Absence time through the SOE Self-Service Online Leave Application System (SOLAS). Leave of absence will only be granted for student teaching leading to initial teacher certification.
• No leave of absence will be granted for non-teaching positions, such as school counselor, psychologist, social worker, attendance teacher, or other similar titles. 

APPLY HERE

Please click the SUBMIT button on your application to ensure that your application has been successfully submitted. You will receive an email confirmation once your application has been submitted successfully. If you do not receive an email, your application was not successfully submitted, and you will need to re-submit your application.

Please mail the required documents to:

New York City Public Schools

Scholarships, Incentives, and Pupil Personnel Services

65 Court Street, Room 508, Brooklyn, New York 11201

Attn: Paraprofessional Student Teaching LOA Program

 

If you require further information, please email SISPParaIncentives@schools.nyc.gov or call us at (718) 935-2449. 

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PARAPROFESSIONAL TO TEACHER PATHWAY GRADUATE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

The NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) will reimburse up to twelve (12) credits towards completing a graduate education program leading to teacher certification for eligible paraprofessionals matriculated in a graduate education program.  New York State certification must be achieved after September 1, of the application year, and must comply with the application procedures for the program as outlined in the document below. Eligible paraprofessionals must be payrolled as a full-time paraprofessional at the time of application filing and remain appointed as a full-time paraprofessional for the remainder of the school year.

Para to Teacher Pathway Graduate Reimbursement Program Information

Click here

To learn more about the Para to Teacher Pathway Graduate Reimbursement Program and the required documents needed to complete the application, please read the Para to Teacher Pathway Graduate Reimbursement Program Information document above.

APPLICATION AVAILABILITY:

Annually: February 1st -- March 31st

APPLY HERE

Please click the SUBMIT button on your application to ensure that your application has been successfully submitted. You will receive an email confirmation once your application has been submitted successfully. If you do not receive an email, your application was not successfully submitted, and you will need to re-submit your application.

Please mail the required documents to:

New York City Public Schools

Scholarships, Incentives, and Pupil Personnel Services

65 Court Street, Room 508, Brooklyn, New York 11201

Attn: Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Graduate Reimbursement Program

If you require further information, please email SISPParaIncentives@schools.nyc.gov or call us at (718) 935-2449.

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PARAPROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION TESTING REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

The NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) offers a one-time reimbursement up to $400.00 for the state teacher certificate application and NYS certification examinations to eligible paraprofessionals interested in pursuing a career as an educator within the New York City Public Schools.  Applicants must be payrolled as a full-time paraprofessional at the time of application filing and remain appointed as a full-time paraprofessional for the remainder of the application school year. 

To learn more about the Paraprofessional Certification Testing Reimbursement Program, review the documents below.

Certification Testing Reimbursement Program Overview	Click Here
Paraprofessional Certification Reimbursement Application	Click Here