New York Assembly Bill A05685

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/19/25
• Refer: 2/19/25
• Report Pass: 2/24/25
• Refer: 2/24/25
• Report Pass: 6/4/25
• Refer: 6/4/25
• Report Pass: 6/6/25
• Engrossed: 6/6/25
• Refer: 6/6/25
• Engrossed: 6/10/25
• Enrolled: 11/17/25
• Chaptered: 11/21/25
• Passed: 11/21/25

Caption

Relates to the New York state masters-in-education teacher incentive scholarship program.

Summary

This bill amends New York’s masters-in-education teacher incentive scholarship program. It expands eligibility so that students enrolled in approved master’s degree in education programs at any New York State college, rather than only public institutions of higher education, may qualify for the scholarship if they meet the existing requirements. Those requirements include earning an undergraduate degree from a New York college, being a New York resident while earning that degree, demonstrating academic excellence, enrolling full-time in an approved master’s program, and agreeing to teach full-time for five years in a New York public elementary or secondary school, including charter schools. The bill also adds a new preference rule for awarding scholarships. Eligible students matriculated at public colleges in New York would receive priority, and any remaining awards could then go to eligible students at private colleges in the state. The measure takes effect immediately and is aimed at broadening access to the scholarship while still favoring public-college students first.

Impact

The bill amends Education Law section 669-f governing the New York State Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship Program. It changes the eligible graduate-school institutions from only public institutions of higher education to any New York State college as defined in Education Law, thereby expanding the pool of potential applicants to include students at private colleges. It also creates a statutory preference hierarchy for award distribution, prioritizing public-college students before private-college students. The bill affects scholarship administration by the Higher Education Services Corporation and continues to condition awards on a five-year teaching commitment in New York public elementary or secondary education.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong, unanimous support throughout the legislative process. The Assembly Higher Education Committee, Assembly Ways and Means Committee, Assembly Rules Committee, Assembly floor, and Senate floor all approved the bill with no recorded opposition. That pattern suggests broad agreement that the scholarship program should be expanded and clarified, while still preserving a preference for public institutions.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the record, since every recorded vote was unanimous and no committee transcript is available. The only potentially sensitive policy choice reflected in the bill is the balance between expanding eligibility to private-college students and preserving a preference for public-college students. Supporters likely view the measure as increasing access to teacher preparation and helping address educator shortages, while the preference language suggests an effort to protect existing public-college priorities and limited scholarship funding.