BUFFALO, NY — Assemblymember Rivera announced that the Fiscal Year 2026-27 New York State Budget includes $250,000 to establish a bilingual educator pipeline program at Buffalo State University, a transformative initiative designed to prepare educators with the linguistic and cultural skills necessary to support New York’s growing population of multilingual learners.

The funding was secured through the efforts of Assemblymember Rivera and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz (District 39 — Corona, Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights, Queens), who advocated vigorously for the program throughout state budget negotiations to address the longstanding shortage of bilingual educators across New York State.

“As Western New York welcomes growing numbers of immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking families, our schools must have the resources and educators necessary to ensure every child has an opportunity to succeed,” said Assemblymember Rivera. “This investment at Buffalo State University will help build a new generation of bilingual educators who understand the languages, cultures, and experiences of multilingual learners. By strengthening this workforce, we are investing directly in the academic success of thousands of students across our region and throughout New York.”

New York State faces significant educational disparities among multilingual learners. According to Education Week, New York's graduation rate for multilingual learners stands at just 31 percent, compared to a national average of 71 percent. Education experts attribute much of this gap to a shortage of educators prepared with the linguistic and cultural competencies needed to effectively support multilingual students.

The need is especially urgent in Western New York. Since 2022, the region has experienced nearly a 50 percent increase in newly arrived students, while multilingual learners now comprise approximately 20.9 percent of Buffalo Public Schools’ student population.

Assemblymember Catalina Cruz praised the funding as a critical step toward educational equity. New York State faces significant educational disparities among multilingual learners. According to Education Week, New York's graduation rate for multilingual learners stands at just 31 percent, compared to a national average of 71 percent. Education experts attribute much of this gap to a shortage of educators prepared with the linguistic and cultural competencies needed to effectively support multilingual students.

The need is especially urgent in Western New York. Since 2022, the region has experienced nearly a 50 percent increase in newly arrived students, while multilingual learners now comprise approximately 20.9 percent of Buffalo Public Schools’ student population.

Assemblymember Catalina Cruz praised the funding as a critical step toward educational equity.

“The $250k investment in Buffalo State to create a Bilingual Educator Pipeline is a crucial first step in addressing New York’s severe shortage of bilingual educators. I want to thank Assemblymember Rivera for his partnership in making this a reality, and for his dedication to his Latino and immigrant communities, who have long needed bilingual educators,” said Assemblymember Catalina Cruz. “I want to be clear: this is only the beginning of establishing a permanent pipeline, and the need for this does not end in Western New York. Multilingual communities, such as those in my district, are home to thousands of students who also deserve teachers who not only speak their language but also understand their culture and lived experiences. If we are serious about educational equity, we cannot and will not stop here. We will continue fighting to expand this pipeline across the state because we are not done until students in every corner of New York have the same opportunity to learn from educators who reflect and understand their language, communities, and culture.”

The Buffalo State bilingual educator pipeline program will provide comprehensive support to recruit, prepare, and retain future bilingual educators. The initiative will focus on expanding access to teacher certification programs for multilingual and immigrant-origin students and community members, while offering the financial, academic, social-emotional, and cultural supports needed to ensure their success.

The state funding from this initiative could support any or all of the following:

• Tuition assistance for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing bilingual education certification;
• Costs associated with certification requirements and clinical experiences;
• Technology, supplies, recruitment, and outreach efforts;
• Salaries for project staff, adjunct instructors, and consultants;
• Curriculum and program development;
• Professional development and mentorship opportunities; and
• Technical assistance and support for partner school districts.

The program is expected to significantly expand the pipeline of qualified bilingual educators available to schools throughout Western New York and across New York State.

“Every student deserves to see themselves reflected in their classroom and to receive an education that values their language, culture, and lived experience,” said Rivera. “This funding helps create that reality while strengthening our educational workforce and improving outcomes for multilingual learners for generations to come.”