News Stories

The push to ensure New York City implements the state class size law gained new momentum this spring after state lawmakers included a provision in the state budget requiring the city Department of Education to fund class size reduction in individual schools so every school can meet the law’s requirements by 2028, the law’s deadline.

The UFT welcomed City Council members to its annual legislative breakfast on May 9 to educate them about union programs and initiatives that need funding in the upcoming city budget.


Christina McGrath received 69% of the online vote to win the election for TRS trustee. However, since the DOE decided to conduct an electronic election for the position on May 8-9 instead of the paper balloting called for in the election bylaws, an Article 78 complaint will be filed.


The union launched a #StartStrong campaign this spring after Mayor Eric Adams failed to restore $170 million in mid-year cuts he made to 3-K and pre-K. The campaign is pushing the city to restore funding for 3-K and pre-K seats in the city budget, reassign 3-K and pre-K seats to neighborhoods where they’re needed, and invest in marketing so families know that early childhood education is available and how to apply.


UFT members have an opportunity to connect with like-minded colleagues on a deeper level, thanks to a unionwide invigoration of UFT professional committees and a new enrollment process that makes it much easier to participate.

The UFT has accused Mayor Adams and the city Department of Education of trying to sabotage the implementation of the state law lowering class size in New York City public schools.
The state has significantly increased aid for city schools to finance the cost of lowering class sizes. But the mayor and the DOE are “inflating cost estimates, inventing excuses and gaslighting the public,” said UFT Assistant Secretary Michael Sill.