The phones at Dial-A-Teacher, the UFT’s long-running homework help line, will start ringing again this school year on Monday, Sept. 19. Once again the Dial-A-Teacher hotline — 1-212-777-3380 — will bring help and encouragement to students and parents struggling with homework assignments from 4 to 7 p.m. every Monday to Thursday that school is in session.

Director Anthony Harmon reported Dial-A-Teacher staff fielded 71,380 calls last year — “a testament,” he said, “to the assurance parents and students have that they are going to get the help they need.”

Dial-A-Teacher staffers are licensed classroom teachers who are qualified and experienced in all subject areas. They can handle questions in nine languages including Armenian and Korean.

Dial-A-Teacher began as a pilot program in 17 elementary schools in 1980 with a staff of five and went citywide in 1986. Today, 36 years later and fully computerized, teachers are able to communicate online with students at all levels and download their assignments so they can better guide them as the students work through challenges.