New York TeacherOctober 31, 2025

Volume LXVII, Number 2

Learn all about the city’s new health plan, which replaces the GHI CBP plan for in-service workers and pre-Medicare retirees on Jan. 1, 2026. The NYCE PPO plan provides a much larger nationwide network of doctors, hospitals and mental health providers and locks in premium-free health care for the next five years.

Cover Story

Premium-free health care secured

For the first time, New York City employees are guaranteed premium-free health care for five years under a new contract approved by the city and municipal unions establishing the New York City Employees PPO (NYCE PPO) plan. The plan, administered jointly by EmblemHealth and UnitedHealthcare, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, replacing the GHI CBP plan for 750,000 city employees, pre-Medicare retirees and their dependents.

Members currently enrolled in the GHI CBP plan will be automatically transferred to the NYCE PPO plan. The change does not affect retirees who are eligible for Medicare or members enrolled in other city health plans, such as HIP HMO.

“The NYCE PPO preserves high-quality, premium-free health care for city workers, maintains and expands current benefits, retains our current network of doctors, expands the provider network and reduces the number of services…

Latest News

News Stories

Unplugged and reengaged

The state’s new UFT-backed cellphone ban is getting rave reviews from educators who say students are more engaged in class — and rediscovering “old-fashioned” pastimes like reading, playing board games and simply talking to one another.

News Stories

Members answer call for Mamdani

Hundreds of UFT members knocked on doors across the city and worked the phones to campaign for Zohran Mamdani and the union’s other endorsed candidates in the weeks leading up to the mayoral election.

Feature Stories

Culture and connection

More than 400 students, parents and community members filled the schoolyard at PS 19 in Corona, Queens, on Sept. 27 for a full day of live music, food and dance performances celebrating Hispanic heritage and health.

PS 19 is one of 39 schools participating in the UFT’s United Community Schools initiative, which connects the entire school to the broader community to address the educational, emotional, social and health issues that can stand in the way of learning.

The event showcased a variety of Latin American musical traditions, from Colombian cumbia to Mexican mariachi to pan-Latin ballads. Attendees also received free resources such as books, backpacks and health information from the school and its more than 20 partner organizations, including MetroPlusHealth and Las Doñas Academy, a women’s entrepreneurship…

News Stories

Change for the better

Paraprofessional Unique Robinson of Murrow HS in Brooklyn acted quickly to advocate for a solution when presented with the need to safely and comfortably meet the toileting needs of her paraplegic student.

Growing scientists in Gowanus

Amber Carlin-Mishkin doesn’t just teach science — she teaches her students to think like scientists. Through a new partnership with the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, the 5th-grade teacher at PS 118 in Park Slope, Brooklyn, helps her students view their own neighborhood as an ecosystem.  

Member Spotlight

What I Do

Valina Vega, family child care provider

Valina Vega is a UFT-represented child care provider who runs an independent day care business out of her home in Brooklyn. "No matter what these children go through, I’m there for them," she says.

Chapter Leader Shoutout

Kudos to Melissa Wall, IS 109, Queens

The efforts of Chapter Leader Melissa Wall of IS 109 in Queens Village saved five teachers from being excessed — and preserved the school's already approved plan to reduce class sizes in its 6th-grade classes.

Around the UFT

Never standing alone

Members throughout the five boroughs wore pink on Oct. 15 in support of breast cancer research and to show solidarity with colleagues fighting the disease.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks

Hundreds of UFT members in all five boroughs and on Long Island participated in the Making Strides walks on the last two Sundays in October, raising money for breast cancer research and awareness.

Panel on the state of the LGBTQ+ community

The UFT Pride Committee convened its first panel on the state of the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on the challenges facing New Yorkers — including educators — amid the rollback of LGBTQ+ rights under President Donald Trump.

Manhattan paraprofessionals meet and greet

About 60 paraprofessionals, including members in their first year and veteran paraprofessionals, gathered to network and meet their union representatives at the Manhattan Paraprofessionals Meet and Greet.

Weingarten book signing

Warning that democracy and public education in the United States are imperiled, Randi Weingarten discussed her new book — “Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy” — at the event with about 170 union members and guests.

Your Rights and Benefits

Know Your Benefits

Cancer care and prevention

The UFT offers a range of programs for members facing a cancer diagnosis that combine compassionate support with access to top-quality clinical care. The 3D mammogram, a sophisticated new tool, is a recent addition to the mix. 

Know Your Rights

Salary, steps and differentials

In addition to the regular pay increases negotiated in each contract, UFT-represented teachers and other pedagogues receive differentials, step payments and longevity increases based on their level of education and years of service.

Your Well-being

Sneakers touching a yellow do not cross line

Setting healthy boundaries

Setting boundaries is an important step to keep relationships healthy. By making time and space for positive interactions and our own priorities, boundaries help us avoid feeling burned out.

You Should Know

Grants, Awards & Freebies

Grants, Awards & Freebies

See our list of current opportunities for educators to receive funds and recognition for their hard work and dedication.

For Your Information

Teacher’s Choice dollar amounts

Find out this year's Teacher's Choice allotment by title. The program reimburses eligible UFT members for supplemental instructional supplies that they purchase out of pocket.

Q&A on the Issues

All about the NYCE PPO plan

The NYC Employees PPO (NYCE PPO) health care plan will replace the GHI CBP plan for in-service city workers and pre-Medicare retirees on Jan. 1, 2026. The following are answers to members’ most common questions.

Secure Your Future

TRS’ new Roth option

The Teachers’ Retirement System will introduce a Roth option in addition to its Tax-Deferred Annuity Program starting in 2026. Learn about this new opportunity to save for retirement.

Secure Your Future

Green and blue arrows and circles showing a circular process

BERS to TRS transfer form due Dec. 10

UFT members who have requested to transfer from the Board of Education Retirement System to the Teachers’ Retirement System must complete and notarize a key form by Dec. 10 for their transfer to be finalized.

Opinions

VPerspective

Give new members a warm welcome

UFT Vice President of Elementary Education Karen Alford urges members to welcome and offer their support to the 6,600 new educators hired this fall to bring more classes under the new class size limits that the union fought so hard to secure.

Editorials

Give us ‘RESPECT’!

Our paraprofessionals have waited long enough. It’s time for the New York City Council to pass the bill providing a $10,000 annual “RESPECT check” for all New York City public school paraprofessionals.

Editorials

Federal firings unjust

The Trump administration is exploiting federal workers as bargaining chips and imposing unfair burdens on them during the government shutdown. 

Editorial Cartoons

Halloween for children of federal workers

Our parents used to work for government... can we have a couple of sandwiches instead?

Comments

Teaching Resources

Learning Curve

Student journalism as ‘participatory civics’

A handful of New York City teachers, as part of the citywide Journalism for All initiative, are leading a revival: bringing back student journalism to public high schools. 

Linking to Learning

Tech tools to foster SEL skills

While it may seem counterintuitive to use technology to teach social-emotional skills, online resources make SEL strategies and curriculum more accessible and engaging, which helps boost their use.

Teacher to Teacher

Nature journaling brings science to life

Nature journaling not only boosts students’ attention, sense of well-being and joy, but also strengthens their scientific, mathematical and critical-thinking skills.  

Building Your Career

Inside My Classroom

Student novels displayed on bookcase

Cara Cifferelli, an ELA teacher at John Dewey HS in Brooklyn, encourages her students to write full-length novels in her classroom as part of National Novel Writing Month. The students' work is displayed in a classroom bookcase.

New Teacher Articles

Crafting meaningful homework

Sound homework policy should meaningfully support learning with overwhelming students or teachers. Veteran educators share their strategies for creating homework that’s worthwhile and effective in the age of artificial intelligence  

New Teacher Profiles

Spreading the dual language of love

Dual-language pre-K teacher Gema Campusano of the District 25 Pre-K Center in Queens has found that bilingual education not only supports students' language development but also builds their confidence and a strong sense of identity. 

Retired Teachers News

RTC Service

What to know about RMDs

Some 75% of UFT members participate in the Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA) program, providing them with an additional retirement income stream. By law, a set percentage of the funds must be withdrawn each year from their TDA after retired members reach the age of 73. Here’s what you need to know about these required minimum distributions (RMDs).

When you retire, your TDA account is automatically placed in deferral status and can remain there for the rest of your life. You have the following options:Receive your TDA funds as a monthly annuity, which is separate from your Qualified Pension Plan (QPP) retirement allowance. Generally, annuities are subject to federal taxes and may be subject to state and local taxes, too.Withdraw your TDA funds, or roll them over to an eligible…

RTC Chapter Leader Column

Why I support the new city health plan

With some reservations and a great deal of hope, I voted for the new NYCE PPO. The new city health plan includes several significant improvements over the GHI CBP plan it replaces. Most important for our pre-Medicare eligible members living outside New York, NYCE PPO offers a national network of doctors and hospitals.

RTC Information

FAQ on the NYCE PPO plan for pre-Medicare retirees

Here are some commonly asked questions about the new city health plan, NYCE PPO, specifically for pre-Medicare retirees.