UFT 2024 city legislative priorities
Download a one-pager PDF of these priorities
We can't allow the city to defund our public schools
We are fighting a DOE budget that inexplicably cuts direct funding to public schools and seeks to undermine the new class-size limits. City Hall must stop using the increased state aid as an excuse to reduce its own investment in public schools, and the DOE must reverse its cuts.
The budget must support:
- Class size reduction: Ensure schools can remain in compliance and dedicate additional funding to recruit and retain new teachers.
- Expanded staffing: Schools need more social workers, counselors, and psychologists to address the full needs of students.
- Support for newcomers: Schools need integrated citywide support for newly arrived migrant students and new entrants.
- Green and healthy schools: Retrofit our schools for resilience and accessibility.
- Educational programs on the chopping block: Sustain programs supported by federal COVID-19 stimulus dollars, including community schools, 3-K, and mental health services. NYC funded these programs before COVID-19 and must again.
- Early childhood education: Strengthen the availability of child care and early childhood education.
The capital plan must support smaller class sizes
The proposed Capital Plan cuts $2B for new school capacity, reduces the number of new classroom seats by nearly 50%, and omits proposed locations or grade levels for 78% of projects, a lack of transparency that violates the class size law. The City Council must ensure that the 2022 class-size law is implemented in a responsible, timely way and that the capital budget includes funds to build the seats we need.
The budget process must be transparent and accountable
The current process allows the mayor to unilaterally cut education funding and manipulate basic statistics about the city’s funds and expenses. The UFT calls upon the City Council to enact urgent reforms to the budget process that will enhance transparency, accountability, and consensus.
Budget priorities
- Invest in class size law
- Restore pre-K/3-K funding
- Reverse school-based budget cuts
- Fund UFT education programs
- Preserve programs funded by federal COVID money
- Prevent city from supplanting state education dollars
- Reform city budget process
UFT Programs
UFT Teacher Center
Accelerates learning and empowers students through award-winning embedded professional development tailored to each school’s unique needs.
- 170 sites across the city (55 new in 2023–24)
- 293,000 educators, principals and parents supported in 2022–23
- 125,000 hours of professional development provided in 2022–23
What we're asking:
- Return to the $8.6M in funding we received from the City Council in FY23 to sustain current programming and move towards having a Teacher Center in every NYC school building
United Community Schools (UCS)
A teacher-inspired nonprofit operating the largest community school network in NYC and transforming public schools and the communities they serve through its proven model.
- 6:1 Community School Director’s return on investment
- 8,891 families fed and household supports in 2023
- 18,408 mental health and wellness visits in 2023
- 16,390 health clinic visits coordinated in 2023
What we're asking:
- $5 million to sustain our current network of community schools and continue providing critical support to children and families
Social emotional learning support programs
Two proven programs—Member Assistance Program (MAP) and the Positive Learning Collaborative (PLC)—addressing the growing mental health and wellness crisis through vital support and programming for staff, students and families.
What we're asking:
- $1.5 million to support our program maintenance and expansion.
Progressive Redesign Opportunity for Schools (PROSE)
A collaboration between the UFT, New York City school district, and principals’ union increasing educator voice to utilize contractual and regulatory flexibilities to better serve the needs of their school communities.
What we're asking:
- $150,000 to sustain and expand the program and to share best practices with schools citywide
BRAVE anti-bullying hotline
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, students, families, and educators dealing with bullying can contact our hotline for immediate help resolving these detrimental situations.
What we're asking:
- $220,000 to sustain our anti-bullying programming for students and educators
Dial-a-Teacher homework helpline
Fielding over 40,000 calls in 9 languages last year, our acclaimed homework helpline is expanding to help students citywide from all grades, across many disciplines and languages.
What we're asking:
- $185,680 to further develop an online presence and procure digital curricula
Citywide Programs
Teacher's Choice
This key initiative ensures teachers are reimbursed for supplies and materials they buy for their classrooms and students in need. We are grateful for the $20 million allocation in the FY25 budget.
What we're asking:
- Baseline the program in the FY25 budget at $20 million
Broadway Bridges
Every NYC high schooler should see a Broadway show before they graduate, and this program provides tickets to high school students so they can experience the city’s rich cultural opportunities.
What we're asking:
- Support this initiative in the FY25 budget