Issues

Parents and educators are natural allies in the struggle to provide the best education for our children. The UFT has worked with parent and community groups at every level, from collaboration at the local school to lobbying in the state legislature. Our issues are the same issues parents care about.

Supporting struggling schools — The UFT believes that the DOE should support struggling schools with the resources they need to meet the educational challenges they face. We believe that parents must be heard in any decision about whether to close a school or how to turn it around.
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Charter schools — The UFT has always supported the innovation and promise of charter schools, but there are those in the charter movement that are more interested in using charter schools to undermine the teachers’ union than in furthering children’s education. Parents want “choice,” but right now they are pitted against each other in a fight over a small number of seats. What needs to happen instead is that all schools are given the resources to excel and all students have access to the best education. Read more >>