Dear parents, grandparents and education activists,

As we approach state budget season, it's critical that we lobby our state Senate and Assembly representatives to allocate more than the $2 billion the state still owes to New York City public schools as part of the 2006 settlement of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity funding lawsuit.

Find out how much your school is owed »

For those of you joining us at the lobby day in Albany on Wednesday, March 9, I look forward to seeing you on the bus bright and early. Contact me at jmckt@uft.org if you have any questions.

For those of you who won't be at the lobby day, please call your legislators and ask them to make sure our schools get the funds they so desperately need. The state budget will be finalized on Friday, April 1, so don't wait.

Look up your state Assembly member »

Look up your state senator »

The City Council will finalize our city budget by July 1, so it's not too early to start lobbying your Council member as well. Look up your City Council member »

Enjoy the events, resources and news below.

Sincerely,

Joan McKeever-Thomas
UFT Parent-Community Liaison

Upcoming events

• Tuesday, March 8: The City Council's Education Committee invites you to a preliminary hearing on the education budget at 1 p.m. in the Committee Room in City Hall. For more details, see the announcement »

• Thursday, March 10: United Cerebral Palsy of New York City will hold its annual summit for people with disabilities and their families from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 5th Ave. at 103rd St. Lunch and MetroCards will be provided, but child care will not be available. There will be workshops about assistive technology, financial planning and more. For more information and to register, see the brochure in English and Spanish »

• Thursday, March 10: Come to a workshop about teaching social skills to children with autism from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at PS 199, 1100 Elm Ave. in Brooklyn. RSVP online now »

• Thursday, March 10: The New York City Housing Authority invites New Yorkers between the ages of 18 and 24 to an information session about technology career programs that are open to those without college or high school diplomas. The information session will discuss three training programs for technical careers. It will be at 10 a.m. at Hostos Community College, 335 E. 111th St. RSVP online now »

• Tuesday, March 15: The UFT will host our annual Season for Nonviolence event, featuring this year an address from civil rights icon Minnijean Brown-Trickey of the historic Little Rock Nine, who integrated Little Rock High School. There will also be presentations from New York City public school students, an interactive United Nations flag ceremony and more. This event will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway. To register, visit the UFT website »

• Wednesday, March 16: The New York City Office of Library Services will hold an information session for aspiring librarians from 5 to 7 p.m. in the 7th floor conference room at 333 7th Ave. in Manhattan. Register online now »

• Tuesday, March 29: Parent to Parent of New York, Inc. invites parents and caregivers of children with autism to an information session about the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Horizon program from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1050 Forest Hill Rd. in Staten Island. See the flier »

• Saturday, April 9: Come to a free fatherhood and family enrichment conference from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Port Richmond High School, 85 St. Josephs Ave. in Staten Island. There will be workshops, seminars and opportunities to network with other parents. Lunch will be served. Register online now »

• Saturday, April 30: The Port Richmond Public Library at 75 Bennett St. in Staten Island will host a free book and pajama day from 2 to 4 p.m. Enjoy a library tour, an arts and crafts activity and story time. Children who apply for a library card will receive a free book or set of pajamas while supplies last. See the flier in English and Spanish »

• Saturday, April 30: Staten Island Black Heritage, Inc. will host its 5th annual families against violence all-star classic from 4 to 9 p.m. at 715 Ocean Terrace. There will be basketball games, music and dance performances, food, a dunk contest and information about Staten Island community organizations. Tickets are $10 if purchased before March 30. To buy tickets, contact Freda McGrew at 1-917-826-1953. Find out more »

News and resources

• Reminder to school leadership team members: If you are the parent representative on your school leadership team, make sure your team meets to review the midpoint benchmarks in your comprehensive educational plan. Any updates or revisions to the plan must be made to the iPlan portal by Tuesday, March 15. If your team needs support, feel free to contact your school or district improvement liaison. Look up your school/district improvement liaison using the DOE portal »

• Staten Island organizations wanted for family fun day: The Mariners Harbor Library is looking for organizations and businesses that offer free services to the community to have a table at the Mariners Harbor family fun day on Saturday, June 11. If your organization is interested in hosting a table, contact Liz Puetz at 1-212-621-0690 or elizabethpuetz@gmail.com. See the flier »

• Free e-books for low-income children: Adults working in libraries, schools, preschools, community after-school programs and other programs that serve low-income children can register children for the Open eBooks app, which offers thousands of best-selling books to low-income children to read for free. Find out more »

• Adult education classes: The Department of Education offers free classes for adults who want to earn their High School Equivalency diploma, learn English, pick up new computer skills and more. For course listings and registration information in nine different languages, visit the adult education website »

• Tax preparation services: Food Bank for New York City offers free tax preparation services for low-income New Yorkers at 1546 Castleton Ave. in Staten Island and at over 16 other tax preparation sites. For more information, see the website »

• Read an update from Chancellor Fariña on education initiatives: Chancellor Carmen Fariña released an update on Feb. 9 on the progress of all the the new education initiatives she has initiated, including computer science for all, college access for all and more. Read the press release »

Jobs and internships

• Job openings for NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is launching a huge mental health initiative called ThriveNYC and has job openings in community engagement, nursing, research and more. Explore the job listings online »

• Summer judicial internship program for high school students: 10th- and 11th-graders are invited to apply for the Sonia and Celina Sotamayor judicial internship program. The internship runs from July 5 to 29 and includes workshops and mentorship with a state or federal judge. The application deadline is Friday, March 18. For more information and to download an application, see the website »