MOSL guidance for teacher evaluation is online

The DOE has released guidance for implementing the Measures of Student Learning (MOSL) that are a part of teacher evaluation. In negotiations with the DOE, the UFT fought for a safe and simple MOSL process this year. As a first step, speak with your principal about convening your school’s MOSL committee to choose between two options: 1) a citywide measure that will not require the school to administer any MOSL assessments; or 2) a single schoolwide measure based on MOSL assessments selected by your committee; these assessments would include in-person students only and must be administered and scored by June 25. The union recommends that schools select the citywide measure. Schools have until June 11 to tell the DOE which of the two options they prefer. When there is a disagreement between the UFT chapter leader and the principal, the default will be the citywide measure. See the 020-21 MOSL Assessment Administration Guidance and the updated DOE FAQ on teacher evaluation (MOSL begins on page 27).

See the MOSL selection guidelines

Apply now for summer school positions

For many students and their families, a successful in-person summer school experience will smooth the transition to in-person learning in September. The DOE has released its posting for summer school and is now accepting applications. The city is expecting the largest summer school enrollment in its history at its Summer Rising program, so there are many positions to fill. There may be a small cohort of remote students, but if UFT members want to ensure a position for themselves, they should apply for an in-person assignment. Retention rights will be honored for all offered positions. UFT members with retention rights who worked remotely because of a medical accommodation this school year will retain their retention rights for future summers even if they do not apply this year. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 11.

Apply now

Our Kids Need campaign launches next week

Class size reduction and intervention teams are two key elements of the UFT's five-point plan for using federal COVID relief funds for schools to help our students recover from the pandemic. We are launching the Our Kids Need campaign next week to prod the mayor to earmark money in the city budget for these two initiatives and to start planning now so they are in place for September. We will be asking members to take action to ensure the city uses its education budget to lower class sizes in 100 of the neediest schools and create mental health/academic intervention teams in every school by next September. Stay tuned for details on how to join the campaign.

Another successful Spring Education Conference

We want to express our appreciation to you for helping to turn out a record-breaking 3,000 UFT members for our Spring Education Conference on Saturday, May 15. In the morning town hall, UFT President Michael Mulgrew, Staten Island teacher Milagros Colon and Bronx paraprofessional Zelideth Diaz had an in-person discussion with Scott Stringer, the union's endorsed candidate for mayor. Stringer called for creating more rigorous and engaging after-school offerings, putting two teachers in every classroom, and dismantling the bureaucracy and sending $1 billion directly to schools. In his address, Mulgrew reflected on all the things that members overcame as a union during this tumultuous school year and gave an update on what lies ahead. State Attorney General Letitia James accepted the John Dewey Award for Excellence in Education, and educators earned two CTLE credit hours at their choice of afternoon workshops.

Watch Mulgrew's speech