About the Teachers Assigned Chapter

A Teacher Assigned (TA) is a Department of Education employee covered by the UFT teachers contract who serves in a job within a program in a district, region or the central DOE. A TA typically serves students and staff in several school organizations if not the entire public school system.

A TA is identified by one of several "position codes" and is on a district, region or central DOE payroll.

Are there different categories of Teachers Assigned?

Yes. There are Teachers Assigned "A" and Teachers Assigned "B" categories.

A TA "A" usually spends much of his or her time in schools with staff and students. Therefore, the work year parallels that of a school-based teacher. A TA "B" usually spends much of his or her time managing, writing or overseeing a program and does not spend a predominant time in schools or with students. The work year is a 12-month period (September through August 31) with 31 vacation days in total taken during times agreed upon between the TA "B" and his or her supervisor.

How does someone obtain a job classified as a Teacher Assigned?

A pedagogue applies to a Teacher Assigned vacancy announcement, better known as a posting. The posting describes the eligibility criteria as well as the duties and responsibilities of the job and the work schedule.

What are the seniority rights of a Teacher Assigned?

Once selected through the application process, a TA becomes part of a seniority "pool" generated by the vacancy announcement. All TAs who obtained jobs through that or a similar posting become part of one seniority pool for the purpose of excessing regardless of when they applied and began the job. Seniority within the pool is based on total time within the DOE system, not within the specific job.

When a TA is selected for a job in a program, the TA is in the program's seniority pool regardless of the payroll source.

Are sick days and vacation days accumulated during my employment?

Sick days and vacation days are treated differently.

A Teacher Assigned "A" or "B" earns 10 sick days per work year. If they are not used during a specific work year, they are carried over from one year to the next, accumulating in one's Cumulative Absence Reserve (CAR).

A Teacher Assigned "B" also has 31 vacation days allocated for the work year. If they are not used during a specific work year, they are not carried over from one year to the next.

Who is responsible for keeping my personnel file?

Your personnel file is kept by your payroll secretary. In the past, only attendance data followed you when changing jobs. Now your personnel file in its entirety follows you. Remember that you have the right to review your file and to question anything which you have not previously seen. Everything in the file is considered part of your permanent record.

Do I receive an annual rating like I did when I was a teacher on a school payroll?

Yes. Each June, your supervisor is required to issue a rating, the Annual Professional Performance Review (Form BE / 9955). This rating sheet for all tenured teachers is to be issued "within the last ten days of each school year and not fewer than four school days prior to the close thereof..." It should itemize only personal identifying information, annual salary, number of days in the Cumulative Absence Reserve and the rating. Section #1 should be left blank when the rating is "satisfactory."

Appeals may be submitted in writing to the Executive Director, Division of Human Resources, with a copy to the Rating Officer, within three weeks from the receipt of the rating, exclusive of summer vacation.