It has been a tremendously stressful time for our students, our families and us. The Department of Education agreed with the UFT that a change of pace and focus was in order during the seven days that would have been the spring break in a normal year.

Today is National Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, so it is a perfect time to say thank you for all that you're doing to make remote learning possible for your students and their families. I know it's been a rocky transition under unprecedented circumstances, but you've stepped up to the plate in a big way. I'm so proud to be your UFT chapter leader.

The Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education at CUNY is offering the Leap to Teacher program for paraprofessionals interested in continuing their higher education.

The Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education at CUNY is offering the Leap to Teacher program for paraprofessionals interested in continuing their higher education.

Each year, the Leap to Teacher program, in collaboration with The Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education at CUNY, holds workshops for UFT members and Leap to Teacher program participants to prepare for the Academic Literacy Skills Test for teacher certification and the Combined Early Childhood and Childhood Multi-Subject Test. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, sign up for a workshop closest to you. Registration is required.

Read more about professional development for paras, chapter updates via email, our Paraprofessional Festival and Awards Luncheon and career opportunities.

Find out about certification for Level III paras, the upcoming constitutional convention, pay increases in May, paraprofessional PD opportunities, immigration rights and more.

During the five-year period starting on July 1, 2016, Level III certified paraprofessionals are required to collect a total of 100 professional development hours, now called Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) hours, by a state-approved provider such as the UFT Teacher Center.

In June 2016, the Regents created a new local diploma option for students with disabilities who did not meet graduation standards through the existing appeal and safety net options.

Schools are no longer required to request prior approval from the State Education Department to administer state assessments over multiple days. And beginning with the 2017 test administration, students with disabilities who have the “tests read” accommodation on their individualized education programs (IEPs) or Section 504 accommodation plans (504 plans) must be provided with this accommodation for all sections of the test.