On Jan. 13, 2022, Schools Chancellor David Banks told the Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council that he is working toward a remote option for city students, saying, “If I could figure out a way to do a remote option starting tomorrow I would … It’s not quite as simple as that because you have to negotiate this stuff with the unions.”

In response, UFT President Michael Mulgrew issued the following statement: 

Clearly the chancellor has been misinformed about the UFT’s position. We have long called for an instructionally sound remote option and have been speaking directly to the mayor about creating one, a program that will work for students.