Teacher Times #17
January 11, 2016

Teacher's Choice Program Key Dates

The Teacher's Choice Program provides an opportunity for eligible school staff members to purchase instructional materials and supplies for use in their classrooms. Teacher’s Choice funds were issued to program participants in their paycheck on November 30. You or a designee should share the following information and upcoming key dates, which are earlier than in past years, with your staff:
 

• January 8 is the last day for Teacher’s Choice participants to purchase qualifying educational materials using their Teacher’s Choice funds (see “Using Teacher’s Choice Funds” on page 3). If your staff members do not spend these funds by January 8, they will be required to reimburse the NYCDOE for unspent funds in accordance with these Teacher’s Choice guidelines. Please note that a payroll deduction will be taken from staff members’ June 30 paychecks if reimbursement is not received by April 15.
• January 15 is the deadline for all participants to submit a Teacher’s Choice Accountability Form and proof of their eligible purchases (i.e. original receipts and/or invoices) to your designee. Your designee must review these materials to ensure that purchases were made in accordance with the Teacher’s Choice guidelines. Note that Absent Teacher Reserve participants who are assigned to your school during the week of January 11 must also submit these materials to your designee by this deadline; for more information, see this Quick Guide: Participants in the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR). 

Grant Opportunities

Grant opportunities are posted on the Grants website (you can visit the page on any computer using this link). This week’s highlights include:
 

• Vernier Engineering Contest

Pic Of The Week

Professional Development and Student Opportunities

Professional development and student opportunities are posted on the PD and Student Opportunities page. This week’s highlights include:
 
All Schools:

• Register by January 13: Attend a Book Signing and Presentation by Eric Foner  
• Register by January 20: Attend a Book Signing and Presentation by Karen Kupperman
• Register by January 21: Pizza & PD: Superheroes in Gotham at the New-York Historical Society
• Register by January 21: New York City Writing Project: Writing Marathon at the Museum of the City of New York
• Register by January 20: Understanding Assessment in High School Social Studies 
• Register by January 22: Register Now for the 2016 Global Forum on Girls’ Education
• Participate on January 26: History Uncorked: Think & Drink with Kathleen Brown at the New-York Historical Society 
• Register by January 26: Activist New York Educator Resource Guide Distribution and Celebration at the Museum of the City of New York
• Register by January 28: Historical Literacy Matters: Developing Civic Capacity in Learners
• Apply by January 29: Coding and Technology Education Opportunity

  
Middle and High Schools:

• Register by January 22: Flying WILD Free Professional Development Workshops
• Apply by January 22: Accepting Applications for the 9/11 Tribute Center Teacher Awards
• Apply by January 29: Free EverFi Certified STEM Teacher Program

 
High Schools:

• Register by January 22: Chancellor’s Day 9/11 Memorial Museum Professional Development Workshop
• Apply by January 29: Bank of America Student Leaders Program