New federal funds, now being held up in Washington, are the only possible way New York City will be able to invest in the protective measures and staff required for schools to safely re-open in September — even on a limited basis.

Federation of Nurses/UFT members employed by NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn on Feb. 24 overwhelmingly ratified a three-year contract that provides solid salary increases while making inroads in addressing the universal problem of staffing shortages.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew told delegates at the Delegate Assembly on Jan. 17 that the union faces both a city and a state budget fight this spring.


A group of high school juniors taking college-level biology at the Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School have a transformative experience working with fluorescent jellyfish proteins during a class trip to the DNA Learning Center in Brooklyn.

UFT Assistant Secretary Michael Sill delivered testimony before the New York City Council Committees on Finance and Education regarding the proposed FY25 executive budget.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew delivered testimony before the state Joint Legislative Budget Committee on the proposed 2025-26 executive budget.

Teacher’s Choice, initiated by the UFT over 30 years ago, allows school staff members to exercise their professional judgment to purchase supplementary supplies and materials to improve the educational experience for their students. Here are answers...

Summer is a time when most people take vacations — and a time of transition from the rest of the year. But while summer may be eagerly anticipated, transitions are not easy for everyone.

Janella Hinds, UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools, and Leo Gordon, UFT Vice President for Career and Technical High Schools, submitted testimony before the New York City Council Committees on Education and Technology on developing policies...

September’s hint of cooler weather brings the feeling of a new year and a fresh start.

As we awaken from our winter semi-hibernation, it’s a good time for a more thorough reset of your life physically, emotionally and mentally. Much like cleaning the house, it’s about organizing yourself so you can be present for the people, places and...

In the spirit of Optimistic October, let’s look at the intertwined issues of burnout and work-life balance from their starting points, when they’re easiest to control and keep in check.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew, joined by elected leaders, parents, and staff celebrated the work of IS 145 Queens principal Ivan Rodriguez in dramatically lowering class sizes for his sixth-grade students.

According to a 2021 survey of city educators, just slightly more than half of us teach students about climate change, and those who do only address it for about two hours per year. A group of dedicated educators is trying to shift that paradigm...

The benefits of 3-K are solid, with the youngest students gaining the foundation they need to succeed in pre-K and beyond as educators engage them in hands-on activities and play-based learning crucial to developing their young minds.


The UFT’s fight with the DOE over compensation for members who worked over the 2020 spring break ended in January when an independent arbitrator ruled that UFT members will receive one vacation day for each day they worked during what should have...

The holidays are a time that most people anticipate and enjoy — but some people have a more complicated relationship with the season. Even when you look forward to the holidays, they can be stressful. The key to enjoying the holidays is to know your...

March brings us from deepest winter to the brink of spring. Learn the benefits of embracing the change in season and applying “spring cleaning” energy to yourself.

Anyone who works in a demanding setting knows that effective time management is a key to success. Here are some ways to set yourself up for a more productive and better year ahead.

The UFT will work with the New York City Department of Education to evaluate assessment practices for elementary school students.

Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza issued guidance from the DOE to schools about March parent-teacher conferences.

We are at a stronger place as a union than we were a year ago. We are using the muscle of activism. We have engaged our communities in a conversation about what is important to us as a profession. We have used our superpower — the power to educate —...

The start of the year is a good time to consider what equipment you have on hand, what you may need to obtain, your classroom protocols related to technology, and what technology projects you’d like to pursue. Here is a framework for doing this...

Give yourself permission to slow down, relax and find your own unique ways of celebrating the season.

When was the last time you engaged in an art project and found yourself losing track of time, becoming immersed in colors and materials, and finishing up with your hands covered with pastel or clay and a smile on your face? If you can’t remember, it...

After striking for more than three weeks in November, the Portland, Oregon school district and the union representing teachers, school counselors and other employees reached an agreement that boosts salaries and planning time. But the new contract...

More than one-third of schools across the country do not have a full-time on-site nurse as students face higher rates of chronic illness, an unprecedented youth mental health crisis and the waning COVID-19 epidemic amid a national nursing shortage.


I can honestly say that when I shifted my goal from “How much can I get done in a day?” to “What are the best ways I can teach my students today?” I began to feel more comfortable and confident in my classroom, says a third-year special education...

Spring is a perfect time to embrace the great outdoors, notice the newly budding leaves and blossoms, feel the fresh air and listen to the lilting sounds of birdsong from all the birds now migrating through.

November can be a time of joy, generosity and togetherness. Yet it can also arrive bundled with stress, comparison and a sense of lack — whether financial, emotional or social. Cultivating abundance thinking and gratitude can transform not only how...

Whether it’s the winter doldrums, the news of the day or the hectic pace of work, there are many reasons you may be feeling overwhelmed. And while it may sound counterintuitive, slowing down and taking the time to nurture yourself can help you...

Geofrey Sorkin, UFT Welfare Fund Executive Director, testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding high hospital costs and the impact on healthcare access.

The longest relationship any of us will have is with ourselves. It’s worth putting time and energy into that relationship and celebrating yourself.

Here are the meeting dates and times for the RTC general membership meetings scheduled for the 2025-26 school year.

In a decision that UFT members have been waiting for since the early days of the pandemic, an independent arbitrator ruled on Jan. 5 that members will receive a vacation day — a brand-new type of day — for each day they worked during the 2020 spring...

Is vacation days for lost vacation days fair?