Conversion
NYCDOE OFFICE OF RECRUITMENT CONVERSION PROGRAM FOR
SUPPLEMENTARY CLASSROOM TEACHING CERTIFICATION
OVERVIEW FOR NEW, INCUMBENT, AND FORMER TEACHERS
E-MAIL: conversion@schools.nyc.gov
The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) is seeking teachers who hold New York State certification (provisional, permanent, initial, or professional, but not conditional initial) in childhood education, generalist in middle school education, social studies, and other selected non-shortage areas who are interested in teaching in the shortage areas of math, the sciences, Students with Disabilities, Spanish, ESL, and bilingual subjects. With the necessary prerequisite coursework in the shortage area (9 hours in Students with Disabilities; 12 hours in math, science, Spanish, ESL, and bilingual) and successful completion of the CST(s) in the supplementary subject, participants may apply for the Conversion Program for Supplementary Classroom Teaching Certification. Please note; in the area of Students with Disabilities B-2, 1-6, and 5-9 generalist; both the Students with Disabilities and Multisubject CSTs must be passed. If selected, participants will serve as a teacher in the shortage area under a Supplementary Certificate which is valid for three years. Participants are expected to complete the program and apply for Initial or Professional Certification by the end of the three year period. Participants in the Conversion Program for Supplementary Classroom Teaching Certification will receive reimbursement for tuition paid to complete the credits required for initial or professional certification in the new area, the fee for one administration of a CST, and the cost of the application for Supplementary Certification.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Conversion Program for Supplementary Certification, applicants must:
- Currently hold (or have proof of pending) New York State provisional, permanent, initial, or professional but not conditional initial certification in a non-shortage area
- Have or be able to qualify for a Commitment Letter and/or Nomination Letter for employment in the NYC public schools
- Commit to teach in NYC public schools for a three year period or repay all tuition to the NYCDOE
- Have completed the prerequisite CST(s) and the required coursework
- Agree to complete all requirements for a teaching certificate in a shortage area in three years, meeting at least annually with the program's manager to review progress towards certification
Program Benefits
- Tuition reimbursement at the CUNY graduate rate of $270 per credit, starting Fall 2005, for courses taken and passed. The coursework may be part of a Master's degree but the Conversion Program will only pay for the courses required for the new certification
- NYCDOE will reimburse program participants for one (1) fee for the Content Specialty Tests
- NYCDOE will pay for one (1) application for the Supplementary Certificate
Requirements for the Program
Participants are required to:
- Complete a minimum of one course each semester and the program in no more than 3 years
- Earn a grade of "C" or better in undergraduate courses; a grade of "B" or better in graduate courses
- All participants must maintain "satisfactory" ratings on annual evaluations
- Former and incumbent teachers must not have any "unsatisfactory" ratings on prior annual evaluations
- Meet with program administrators at least annually to report progress towards certification
- Pay back any funds if he/she separates voluntarily from service as agreed to in the contract
Application for the Conversion Program for Supplementary Classroom Teacher Certification for Teachers New to the NYC Public Schools, Incumbent Teachers, and Former NYC Teachers
- Copies of Commitment and/or Nomination Letters if/as available
- Copy of New York State Certification
- Evidence of a passing score on the CST(s) (or BEA, if applicable) in the shortage (conversion) area
- Copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts