Governor Pataki has also made a dramatic commitment to school construction by more than doubling building aid for City schools since 1994-95 and by increasing the State's share of construction costs in NYC from 46 percent to 64 percent. In addition, Governor Pataki has also sought to complement these unprecedented funding increases with a wide array of reform measures designed to increase accountability and performance in New York City's public schools. The 'Teachers of Tomorrow' program will bring new teachers into our classrooms and help many teachers attain certification, while building upon the unprecedented investments we've made in our schools. The 'Teachers of Tomorrow' program will make available the resources necessary to help teachers become certified, thereby improving the quality of instruction in School District 6 and in public schools throughout New York. This comprehensive approach is imperative if we are to move forward with our efforts to achieve higher academic standards.
Teachers are key to improved educational performance.
Without an adequate supply of qualified teachers, our schools will have difficulty meeting the new higher learning standards. There are approximately 200,000 public school teachers statewide. More than 10,000 are teaching without permanent certification. Further, the teaching population is aging, with approximately 70,000 teachers about a third expected to retire in the next decade. These awards will be used to reduce outstanding student loan balances and defray other education costs.