Teachers participating in a yearlong UFT/AFT Teacher Leaders Program, facilitated by the UFT Teacher Center, presented their research findings on key education issues at a culminating event at union headquarters on May 17. The program was designed to give teachers a voice in education policymaking. Presenters each gave a 10-minute summary of their findings and recommendations to colleagues, education and community leaders, and members of the City Council who attended and who provided feedback at round-table discussions throughout the day. As an example of the work done by presenters, Lisa Viscovi, who teaches autistic children at P 993 in Queens, surveyed 118 teachers in her research to determine how effective the redesigned New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) is at evaluating student progress. Her findings: “The most common response about the benefits was ‘none.’” In other research, Leo Gordon of Ralph McKee Vocational and Technical HS on Staten Island recommended that the state Legislature change graduation requirements for career and technical education students earning industry certification. UFT President Michael Mulgrew congratulated teachers on their contributions to policymaking. Twelve AFT locals around the country participate in the Teacher Leaders Program, with the support of a union grant.