new teacher q & a

With the economy so bad, am I in danger of losing my job? What’s the difference between being laid off and being excessed?

Jan 22, 2009 2:04 PM

A: The current UFT contract protects teachers from layoff. A layoff can only occur if the city declares a financial emergency. That’s a big deal for our newest members, who ordinarily are the most vulnerable during an economic downturn.

Someone who is laid off is out of a job. Excessing, however, is very different. Excessed teachers still have job security; i.e., they receive full pay and benefits, although they may have to find a new placement in another school.

Excessing happens when a school has more teachers in a particular certification/license area than it needs. When student enrollment is down or a school is being phased out, a school may find it has an “excess” of teachers.

Excessing occurs between school years (the union ended the practice of midyear tipping or excessing). Your principal must inform you by mid-June that you may be excessed but the excessing does not go into effect until the first day of the following school year. When excessing takes place, it has to follow rules that are spelled out in the contract. More about excessing will appear on The Newer Teacher pages later in the school year.