News for Paraprofessionals

This summer, the union launched Childcare Connection, a benefit to help UFT members find out if they qualify for free or reduced-cost child care as well as to find home-based child care providers near their home or work.


Several hundred paraprofessionals who contribute to COPE, the union’s political action fund, attended a performance of Suffs, the Broadway musical about women’s battle for the right to vote, as an expression of thanks from the UFT.

The benefits of 3-K are solid, with the youngest students gaining the foundation they need to succeed in pre-K and beyond as educators engage them in hands-on activities and play-based learning crucial to developing their young minds.


Nearly 700 members of the Paraprofessionals Chapter turned out at the New York Hilton on March 23 to honor 15 of their colleagues for their heroic efforts in New York City's public school classrooms at the annual Paraprofessionals Festival & Awards Luncheon, which feted the "Superheroes of Education."

The Delegate Assembly approved resolutions to support paraprofessionals' fight for a living wage and better benefits; acknowledge the work of the union's founders on the UFT's 64th anniversary; and honor the impact that women have had on the union.

Ten years ago, the UFT saved the jobs of 10,000 members by providing training on combating discrimination, bullying and harassment in schools The six hours of training was required by the then-new state law, the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), for teachers, paraprofessionals and school clinicians to maintain their state certification. Many of the trainers, past and present, came together on Feb. 8 to mark the anniversary.