In the four years since the introduction of A+ credits as part of the 2018 DOE-UFT contract, the course offerings have expanded for teachers working toward their MA+30 salary differential.

A+ courses are designed specifically to align with the New York City public school system’s educational priorities and initiatives. The courses must be approved by a committee on which UFT and DOE officials are equally represented.

The UFT offers two A+ courses — Language, Culture and Learning for English Language Learners and Methods of Teaching Language and Literacy for English Language Learners. The two UFT courses are worth three A+ credits and 45 CTLE hours each.

For this school year, all P credit courses offered through the Department of Education’s After School Professional Development Program (ASPDP) catalog will qualify for one or more A+ credits. The program offers a broad spectrum of courses, many of them accessible online, in all subject areas. Popular ASPDP courses include survival strategies for teachers in K-5, Grades 6-8 and 9-12, and Becoming a Culturally Responsive Teacher.

ASPDP courses are offered in the fall, the spring and the summer. The ASPDP catalog for each semester is published shortly before the semester begins. Check the ASPDP website for information on cost and location of A+ courses.

Three-credit courses have at least 45 hours of instruction, while a two-credit course has 30 hours and a one-credit course has 15 hours. Fall and spring courses may last up to 16 weeks; summer courses generally last one to seven weeks.

In addition to ASPDP courses, teachers may also qualify for A+ credit for coursework taken to achieve additional certification in one or more of the following designated areas:

• Special Education
• Health
• Bilingual extension
• TESOL certificate, inclusive of additional content area certification
• Secondary Content Area Additional Certification for those who hold a Special Education or ESL Certificate
• 18 credits in content areas for those teachers with a Students with Disabilities generalist certification seeking a content extension
• School Building Leader

Teachers may take any approved A+ course, even if it is not in the subject area or grade level they are certified for.

A+ courses may only be taken for credit by teachers. The salary differential options have not changed for school counselors, paraprofessionals, school secretaries and staff in other nonteacher titles.