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.

Find out about the role of a paraprofessional, our Paraprofessional Festival and Awards Luncheon, our Lead Teacher Assistant meet-and-greet, certification and more.

A brief summary of changes regarding an agreement that the UFT and the Department of Education announced in May, which creates a new position that is the beginning of a professional career ladder for paraprofessionals in New York City public schools.

The Department of Education on June 24 posted the Lead Teacher Assistant, the new career ladder position for paraprofessionals negotiated by the DOE and the UFT.

Find out more about the new lead teacher assistant (lead educational associate) position for paraprofessionals.

Find out about the new lead para title, help for paras becoming teachers, change in certification for Level III paras, the Open Market Transfer and more.

All paraprofessionals should understand that lunchroom supervision is not a para’s responsibility.

This year, we’ve had some exciting things happen. We celebrated our schools and the work of many outstanding paraprofessionals. We told state lawmakers in Albany about the issues facing our students and educators. We fought for our profession and our students.

The CUNY Joseph S. Murphy Institute is hosting free teacher certification exam preparation workshops for the Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST) and Combined Early Childhood and Childhood Multi-Subject Test (CST) for LEAP to Teacher participants and CUNY UFT members.