Teachers of Tomorrow
Teachers of Tomorrow (TOT): Program Details and Eligibility Requirements
Recruitment Incentive Program (TOT1)
The Teachers of Tomorrow Recruitment Incentive Program offers eligible newly-hired teachers $3,400 for each year of service at a Teachers of Tomorrow school, for up to four consecutive years (totaling up to $13,600). Please note that the list of schools eligible for TOT may be different each year.
In order to be eligible for a TOT1 award, you must meet all of the following criteria:
1. Be a newly hired certified classroom teacher (no prior employment as a full-time teacher with NYC public schools prior to the 2011-12 school year)
2. Hold transitional, provisional, conditional initial, initial, professional or permanent NYS certification in the area for which you are teaching. Teachers with internship certification are ineligible.
3. Have not benefited from any DOE program that provides financial assistance in obtaining certification, such as Success Via Apprenticeship, NYC Teaching Fellows, Teach for America, I-Start Urban Teacher Residency, New Visions Urban Teacher Residency, NYC Teaching Residency for School Turnaround, the JoseP Loan Forgiveness Program, and/or the Scholarship Program.
4. Serve in an eligible school indicated on the TOT school list (see above) as a full-time, appointed teacher.
5. Complete one full school year (September-June) of teaching. Teachers who take a leave of absence during the school year are ineligible. (Teachers hired at any point during the school year will be eligible for a TOT award once they have completed one full year of service.)
6. Receive a satisfactory performance evaluation upon completion of your first full school year.
Note to Continuing Teachers of Tomorrow TOT1 participants:
The Teachers of Tomorrow eligible school list is updated each year. If you receive a TOT1 grant in your first year of teaching and your school drops off the eligible list in subsequent years, you will remain eligible for the grant for the full 4-year period if you remain at that school (or transfer to a current Teachers of Tomorrow eligible school) if all other eligibility requirements are met (subject to funding availability).
Each year, teachers who meet the eligibility criteria above and are working at a TOT-eligible school will receive an email letting them know when the application is available.
To verify participating locations, please review the current list of 2012-2013 TOT schools.
Tuition Reimbursement Program (TOT2)
Depending on the availability of funds after TOT1 awards are paid out each year, incumbent teachers working in a Teachers of Tomorrow school who are currently working towards their first master's degree may be eligible for tuition reimbursement of up to $700 per course (or the actual cost of an approved course, if it is under $700) for up to three courses as part of the TOT2 incentive program.
In order to be eligible for this grant, you must meet all of the following criteria:
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Be an incumbent certified classroom teacher with transitional, provisional, conditional initial, or initial NYS certificate in the area for which you are teaching. Teachers with internship, professional or permanent certification are not eligible).
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Have not benefited from any DOE program that provides financial assistance in obtaining certification, such as Success via Apprenticeship, New York City Teaching Fellows, Teach for America, I-Start, New Visions Urban Teacher Residency Program, the JoseP Loan Forgiveness Program and/or the Scholarship Program.
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Have not received another category of a Teachers of Tomorrow award in prior years.
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Serve as a full-time, appointed teacher in an eligible school for the current school year.
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Complete one full school year (September-June) of teaching. Teachers who take a leave of absence during the school year are ineligible. (Teachers hired at any point during the school year will be eligible for a TOT award once they have completed one full year of service.)
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Receive a satisfactory performance evaluation upon completion of the school year.
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Have taken master's coursework leading to New York State permanent of professional certification and be able to provide the following documentation:
o Transcript or grade report from an accredited institution of higher education verifying successful completion (Grade B or higher) and dates of courses taken.
o Proof of payment detailing tuition costs, which may include:
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A bursar's receipt indicating proof of payment or
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A bursar's receipt and one of the following showing payment to the school administering the course: copy of cancelled check(s), bank statement or credit card statement (account activity/billing statements are not acceptable proof of payment) or
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Notice on official letterhead from the accredited institution of higher education indicating successful completion of coursework, cost of coursework and proof of payment.
Note: The availability of all Teachers of Tomorrow programs is contingent upon funding by the New York State Education Department each year. Depending on funding availability each year, it is possible that the initial grant award of up to $2,100 ($700 per course for up to three courses) may be renewed for one additional year as long as eligibility requirements are maintained.
Each year, teachers who meet the eligibility criteria above and are working at a TOT-eligible school will receive an email letting them know when the application is available.
To verify participating locations, please review the current list of TOT schools for the 2012-2013 school year. The list of eligible schools for the Teachers of Tomorrow grant changes annually and is determined by the New York City Department of Education in conjunction with the guidelines set forth by New York State. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, June 28, 2013.
To apply for the Teachers of Tomorrow Program, please click here.