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The Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program

Supplementary Certificate Pathways - September 12, 2003 to August 31, 2025

In response to the influx of recently arrived and asylum-seeking students, and to promote the teaching of English Language Learners in NYS schools, the Board of Regents recently adopted an emergency rule to provide flexibilities for the Supplementary Certificate and Supplementary Bilingual Education Extension. The supplementary certificates have a (5) five-year validity period, during which the candidate should be working toward completing the requirements for the initial certificate. In the case of the Bilingual Extension Supplementary certificate, the validity period is (3) three years, and can be renewed for an additional (3) year period for recipients that enroll in a New York State approved teacher education program leading to the Bilingual Extension. For more information review the Supplementary Certificate Pathways document.

Option One (1): You currently hold a New York State teaching certification and you are seeking a supplementary Bilingual Education extension to your current certification.

Option Two (2): You currently hold a valid Initial, Professional, or Permanent New York State teaching certification1 and you are seeking supplementary certification in English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Option Three (3): You currently hold an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Initial, Professional, or Permanent New York State teaching certification and you are seeking supplementary certification in a content area.

For additional questions, contact The New York State Education Department 518-474-3901.

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The Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program was designed to address the shortage of bilingual clinicians within the New York City Public School System in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, and Speech-Language Pathology. This program assists participants with the bilingual extension certification process and provides tuition reimbursement at the CUNY rate.

Who should apply?

Full-time New York City Public Schools employees working in the areas of Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, and Speech-Language Pathology.
Applicants must be an incumbent certified classroom teacher or clinician with a valid New York State Education Department (NYSED) Initial, Provisional, Professional, or Permanent NYS certificate in the area they will be teaching or providing services.
Applicants must have passed the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) examination in the target language.
Applicants must receive a principal's nomination or a commitment letter from a NYC Public School for a bilingual position.
Applicants must be enrolled in or have completed a New York State Education Department (NYSED) approved program leading to the Bilingual Extension within the CURRENT school year.

When should I apply?

The Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program allows applicants to apply for the program once they meet the eligibility requirements on a rolling deadline basis. Applications are reviewed as they are received.

What do I need to know before applying?

Before applying to the Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program, applicants must understand the following:

SERVICE REQUIREMENT

Participants must be committed to serving as a Bilingual Educator or clinician in a New York City Public School for a minimum of three (3) years.
NOTE: Please be mindful that upon selection, candidates will be re-appointed to their newly acquired Bilingual subject area title. This change in employment status will require a probationary period that will affect tenure.

REIMBURSEMENT

Reimbursement will not be granted until the program recipient is appointed to a bilingual position within the above-mentioned subject areas.
The program participants must provide proof that they have been issued the bilingual extension from the New York State Education Department.
Only coursework completed with a "B" or higher grade will be considered for reimbursement.
Eligible participants will be reimbursed at the current CUNY Graduate tuition rate (not to exceed 12 credits) for coursework required to complete the Initial extension annotation for Speech Teachers or the PPS/Admin Bilingual Extension for all other PPS titles.
The NYCDOE will not pay for other fees and expenses; this is the participant's responsibility.

How do I apply for the Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program?

Applicants may apply for the Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program by completing and returning the application form with the required documentation to the HRSS- Office of Scholarships, Incentives, Speech, and Pupil Personnel Services via email at SISPBilingualExtension@schools.nyc.gov.
The application can be found below and using the Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program Application link.

What documents must I submit for the Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program application?

Applicants must provide the three (3) documents below with their application to verify program eligibility.

Transcript – The transcript must show proof of completion of the required coursework for the bilingual extension with passing grades of "B" or better.
Copy of BEA Score Report – The score report must show proof of passing the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA) examination in the target language.
Copy of Nomination or Commitment Letter – The nomination or commitment letter must reflect staffing for a bilingual position within a NYC Public School. The nomination or commitment letter must be on official letterhead.

Who should I contact if I have questions about the program?

For inquiries regarding the Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program, please email us at SISPBilingualExtension@schools.nyc.gov or call us at 1-718-935-2449.

To apply for the Supplementary Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program, please complete the application form and return it to the HRSS- Office of Scholarships, Incentives, Speech, and Pupil Personnel Services.

Bilingual Extension Reimbursement Program - Application

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Completed forms should be emailed to SISPBilingualExtensi@schools.nyc.gov

Implementation of the Bilingual Supplementary Extension Program is contingent upon the availability of funding and the staffing needs of the New York City Public Schools.