Mentor Teacher Internship Grant Program

The New York State Education Department administers the Mentor Teacher Internship Program as a state-funded initiative designed to strengthen the teaching workforce through structured mentorship. Established through amendment to Education Law 3033, the program reflects a long-standing legislative commitment to improving teacher retention and instructional quality. The program is administered by the Office of Higher Education and is directed toward public school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services. Funding is appropriated annually by the New York State Legislature, with a total allocation of approximately 2 million dollars per year over a five-year cycle. The primary purpose of the program is to provide systematic mentoring support to beginning teachers in their first or second year of service. Through the program, experienced and highly qualified teachers serve as mentors, guiding new educators through classroom practice, instructional strategies, and professional development. The program emphasizes improving teaching effectiveness, increasing teacher confidence, and supporting long-term retention in the profession. Research cited within the program materials highlights that mentored teachers are more likely to remain in teaching and improve their instructional performance. Funding supports a structured mentoring framework that includes release time for mentors and interns, formal training, program coordination, and evaluation activities. Allowable uses of funds include costs associated with substitute teachers to cover release time, professional development activities, program administration, supplies, evaluation, and travel. Certain expenditures are explicitly restricted, including equipment purchases and construction or remodeling costs. The funding model is tiered, with allocations based on district size and anticipated number of new teachers served, and includes a per-intern funding estimate of approximately 8540 dollars for program planning purposes. Eligibility is limited to public school districts and BOCES within New York State. Special consideration is given to high-need districts based on economically disadvantaged student populations. Applicants must demonstrate a comprehensive mentoring plan developed collaboratively with teacher bargaining units, including clear procedures for mentor selection, training, and evaluation. Mentors must meet specific qualifications, including professional certification, demonstrated teaching excellence, and strong interpersonal skills. Interns must be early-career teachers meeting defined certification and service criteria. The application process requires submission of a detailed proposal narrative, budget documentation, and multiple supporting forms. Applications must be submitted electronically via email, along with mailed budget forms, by the specified deadline. The proposal must address key program components such as joint planning, release time structure, mentor training, intern support, program evaluation, and management. Applications are evaluated based on a scoring rubric totaling 125 points, with a minimum threshold required for funding consideration. Additional bonus points may be awarded for high-need districts. The program operates on a multi-year funding cycle from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028, with annual continuation dependent on legislative appropriations and compliance with program requirements. Awardees may reapply annually and receive consistent funding levels based on initial awards, subject to performance and compliance reviews. Required reporting includes mid-year and annual reports detailing program activities, participant data, and outcomes. Monitoring includes both off-site reporting and on-site evaluations. Contact for the program is provided through the New York State Education Department, with a designated program coordinator available by phone and email for inquiries. The program follows a recurring funding structure tied to legislative appropriations, suggesting ongoing future opportunities for eligible entities.

Focus heavily on mentor selection quality and training design; ensure compliance with release time requirements; clearly align proposal with evaluation rubric criteria; demonstrate strong program evaluation methods