Frequently Asked Questions

If you can't find the answer to your question, please email [email protected]

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Do I qualify as an educator from a Disadvantaged Community (DAC)?

NYSERDA is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to clean energy program benefits for residents of DACs. As part of this effort, educators teaching in DAC will have a prioritized acceptance rate and be offered an equity adjustment of +20% to their stipends.

To see if you qualify, enter the address of the school building in which you teach or your school district's main office to this map.

How do I receive the stipend?

The stipend will be issued after the completion of the event. You will be connected with someone from NYSERDA’s financial department who will ask you a few questions and set you up as a supplier.

After speaking with NYSERDA’s financial department, you’ll receive an email with your supplier ID and an invite to set up electronic payment. (If you choose not to sign up for electronic payment, the default will be to receive a check in the mail.) If you can't find this email, make sure to check your spam folder.

For electronic payments, allow about 1-2 weeks. If you opted to receive payment via a check in the mail, expect it in around 2-4 weeks.

For those educators that are eligible, they are entitled to a maximum of one stipend.

Do I still qualify for the stipend if I can only attend part of the event?

We offer 4-day and 1-day event options all across New York State to accommodate different schedules and geographic/travel considerations. Our goal is to have educators attend the entire event to receive the full stipend. Partial stipends won’t be offered.

Do I earn CTLE credits for attending?

Yes, indeed! You'll receive a CTLE Certificate for being part of the event.

What if I have to cancel?

Life happens, and we get it. Please send us an email at [email protected] as soon as you know you won't be able to attend. This way, we can open up your spot for others.

I haven't heard anything about my application. Who can I contact?

We accept applications on a rolling basis. Send us an email at [email protected] if you're wondering about your application status.

Can I attend a Workshop or Institute twice?

In order to ensure that NYS educators have equal opportunity to attend our Workshops and Institutes, unfortunately, educators are only able to attend once.

I teach preschool - third graders, can I still apply?

Unfortunately, no. The content at our Workshops and Institutes is created for students in grades 4-12.