News for Paraprofessionals
Fight for RESPECT continues
Paraprofessionals fanned out across the city in January to sit down with City Council members to urge them to support a revised "RESPECT check" bill that would provide an annual check of no less than $10,000 to the educators whose ranks are suffering a severe crisis in recruitment and retention.
Partnering with paraprofessionals
When teachers and paraprofessionals are on the same page, the classroom becomes a place of unity and students are the beneficiaries. Teachers across the city discuss the benefits of forging strong, healthy relationships with the paraprofessionals with whom they work.
RESPECT campaign update
In the few weeks since the new City Council members were sworn in, we’ve hit the ground running. Our paraprofessionals have met with at least 45 members of the City Council so far, and more appointments have been scheduled.
The RESPECT campaign is underway in the new year
It’s a new year, but the fight for our paraprofessional RESPECT check continues.
Our fight isn’t over
Thousands of paraprofessionals mobilized throughout 2025 to fight for the $10,000 annual "RESPECT check," only to have City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams block it. The UFT will redouble its efforts in the new year.
Fight for ‘RESPECT ’ continues
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams blocked the “RESPECT check” bill from coming to a vote before the full City Council this year. But the UFT plans to redouble its efforts to get the bill across the finish line in the new year.