AB1 Building will be temporarily offline on Monday, February 9, 2026, due to freezing temperatures causing the sprinkler to malfunction resulting in flooding from the third floor to the basement. All classes scheduled in the AB1 Building will be held remotely. All other buildings are open for regular operations. For students enrolled in AB1-building classes who need access for their remote instruction, there are computers available in the computer labs that will enable you to logon to your class.
Office of Academic Affairs » Academic Schools » School of Education » Grants » Educate to Liberate Paraprofessionals Grant

Educate to Liberate Paraprofessionals Grant

Educate to Liberate Paraprofessional logo

Partnership with Leap to Teacher and NYCDOE Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality

This grant will be for the students in the Multicultural Early Childhood and Elementary Education Department which confers the following degrees: AA in Teacher Education and BA in Childhood Education.

Objectives:

  • To recruit more Black, Indigenous, & People of Color into the teaching workforce by supporting them financially, personally, and academically to earn a bachelor’s degree within four years.
  • To support the development of truly culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy as well as anti-bias and trauma-informed pedagogy.
  • Earn Continuing Leader and Teacher Education (CTLE) credits at no cost through their participation in meaningful workshops connected to their coursework
  • To improve STEM mindsets for elementary school teachers and break the cycle of STEM-phobia which is passed from teacher to student.

Who is Eligible?

  • Current NYC Public Schools Paraprofessionals (Full-time or Part-time)
  • Candidates who have NOT completed a Bachelors degree. Candidates may enroll with zero credits, transfer credits, or be current student at MEC

Once accepted into the grant, you MUST enroll in Medgar Evers College BA in Childhood Education.

Grant participants receive:

  • Mentors who are former paras and MEC alumni
  • Academic tutors
  • STEM pedagogical coaches
  • Workshops in diversity, equity, social justice, anti-bias and trauma-informed pedagogy, and STEM mindset

Benefits include:

  • Books and fees estimated at $500
  • Student will receive a weekly stipend of $100/student x 30 weeks
  • Dependent care costs $75/student x 30 weeks
  • Tuition benefits for those who do not currently qualify for the UFT Tuition Waiver (i.e. sub paras and first year paras)

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