ROCHESTER, N.Y. — An answer to the teacher shortage in Rochester could come with a new city school initiative.

The district is partnering with Nazareth College and the University of Rochester to hire graduate students as teaching fellows. It's a three-year commitment for students. Beyond salary and benefits, they'll get a $10,000 stipend for their college tuition. 

American Rescue Plan funding is paying for it.

"We know that high-quality teaching, right, is the key," said interim RCSD Superintendent Dr. Carmine Peluso. "So what we want to make sure is that our teachers are prepared for our children and what they're going to be seeing when they enter a classroom full-time."

The ROC Urban Teaching Fellows Program is the first of its kind in this area.

Other districts across New York are already implementing this teacher residency model.