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Teaching in Remote/Hybrid Learning Environments (TRLE)

Teaching in Remote/Hybrid Learning Environments (TRLE)

Rethink Grant Overview and Data

Overview and Grant Design (Core Competencies)

In July 2020, the United States Department of Education (USDE) announced that New York was awarded almost $20 million for the federal Rethink K-12 Education Models Grant. This will provide more than 190,000 teachers and educational leaders across this State with a combined 450,000 hours of professional support to implement effective practices in remote/hybrid teaching and learning which, in turn, will reach an estimated two million students. Thirty-nine states applied for this funding and New York was one of eleven states to be awarded funds under this grant competition.

The New York State Education Department applied for the Rethink Education Models grant to support blended and remote learning. The Department’s approach to continuity of learning is founded on two major pillars: a partnership with communities, schools, and educational leaders to close the digital divide, and steadfast support for New York’s educators. Schools at every level across our State face tremendous challenges as they address the crisis created by COVID-19; we commend our dedicated educators who have stepped up, adapting quickly to ensure continuity of learning so our students don’t fall behind.

The grant is funded through the federal Education Stabilization Fund (ESF), authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Learn more about the Education Stabilization Fund-Rethink K12 Education Models Grants.

Other Resources

Rethink Grant Presentations

Quality Remote/ Hybrid Teaching Framework

Rethink Grant Overview - Fall 2020

Recover, Rebuild, and Renew the Spirit of Our Schools Update on School Reopening: P12 and Higher Education

Rethink Grant by the Numbers
  • 19.9M - Approximate amount in dollars NYS received as a part of the Rethink K-12 Education Models Grant 
  • 1.89M - Number of students who will be served by educators trained through evidence-based professional learning through the TRLE program. 
  •  94,513 – Minimum number of teachers who will be served by the professional learning experiences in TRLE 
  • 75 – Percentage of educators who will complete at least one PLE on remote learning through TRLE activities. 
  • 25 – Percentage point increase of remote/hybrid student learning options expected due to TRLE. 
Rethink Grant Leadership Team
  • Jim Baldwin 
    • Senior Deputy Commissioner for Education Policy 
    • TRLE Project Director
  • Allison Armour-Garb 
    • Special Advisor to the Executive Deputy Commissioner for Education Policy
    • TRLE Project Manager 

    David Frank

    • Chief of Staff, Office of Education Policy 
    • TRLE Project Manager 
  • Tanya Lewis-Jones 
    • TRLE Project Coordinator 
  • Annette Audi 
    • TRLE Project Assistant ​

Contact us at rethink@nysed.gov  

Rethink Grant Participation

Throughout the three-year life of the grant, NYSED will be asking for input from both educators and the public.

  • Rethink Grant Advisory Group 
    • As part of the continuous improvement process of this program, we are seeking to partner with stakeholders throughout the state to serve on the TRLE Advisory Board, a sub-committee of the NYSED Office of Curriculum and Instruction’s Digital Learning Advisory Committee. TRLE Advisory Board members will include parents, students, teachers, educational leaders, researchers, professional learning providers, and community leaders. The TRLE Advisory Board will serve as a sounding board for project initiatives and will be asked for feedback to help maximize project impact. Discussion topics may include analyzing data collected through our evaluation partner and/or providing insight regarding the latest trends from the field. 
  • Educators
    • Please provide your thoughts to the TRLE team and sign up to participate in future focus groups through at THIS LINK 
  • Students
    • Students will be able to share their thoughts on remote/hybrid learning environments through participating in focus groups and interviews. 
    • SIGN UP HERE 
  • Parents
    • NYS parents can also sign up to participate in focus groups and interviews to help guide the TRLE activities. 
    • SIGN UP HERE 
Rethink Grant Partners
  • Level 1 Centers 
    • Level 1 Centers provided a rapid infusion a rapid infusion of professional learning to educators throughout the state. To facilitate these experiences, NYSED has partnered with Regional Information Centers (RICs) and school districts and has designated five of these entities as Level 1 Centers: 
      1. Consortium of 10 RICs –  
        • Website: www.eteachny.org 
        • Twitter: @eteachny 
        • The Consortium is comprised of: 
          • NortheasternRegional Information Center (NERIC)-Albany-Schoharie-Schenectady-Saratoga BOCES (Capital Region BOCES) 
          • Suffolk RIC- Eastern Suffolk BOCES 
          • South Central RIC (SCRIC)- Broome-Delaware-Tioga BOCES (Broome-Tioga BOCES) 
          • Nassau RIC- Nassau BOCES 
          • Mohawk RIC(MORIC)- Madison-Oneida BOCES 
          • Monroe RIC- Monroe 1 BOCES 
          • Mid-Hudson/Ulster RIC (MHRIC)-Ulster BOCES 
          • Greater Southern Tier RIC (GSTRIC)- Schuyler-Steuben-Chemung-Tioga-Allegany BOCES (Greater Southern Tier BOCES) 
          • EduTechRIC (EduTech)- Ontario-Seneca-Yates-Cayuga-Wayne BOCES (Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES) 
          • Central NY RIC (CNYRIC)- Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES (OCM BOCES) 
      2. Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) in partnership with Southern Westchester BOCES and in collaboration with members of our regional Joint Management Team (JMT) 
      3. New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) 
      4. Western New York Regional Information Center (WNYRIC) in collaboration with Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, Orleans Niagara BOCES, and Cattaraugus Alleghany BOCES (Western Joint Management Team, JMT). 
      5. Yonkers City School District - (YCSD) 
  • SUNY Stony Brook Center for Teaching and Learning in Community (CTLC)
    • Website:  www.stonybrook.edu/ctlc/trle 
    • NYSED has partnered with CTLC to facilitate an ongoing evaluation of the TRLE program. 
    • CTLC will perform the following activities: 
      1. Program evaluation and improvement – Through surveys, focus groups, and interviews, CTLC will gather data from various groups of stakeholders in order to inform the TRLE program and better serve educators and students. 
      2. Action-research – CTLC will facilitate professional learning communities to develop problems of practice that will lead to the creation of a Quality Remote/Hybrid Teaching Framework and several professional learning experiences for educators in New York State. 
  • Measurement Inc.
    • Website: https://www.measurementinc.com/
    • NYSED has partnered with Measurement Inc. to deliver 60+ Professional Learning Experiences (PLEs) based on the TRLE's six core competencies and the efficacy research performed including turnkey training curriculum to educators and educational leaders across New York State.