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Tour de force

Teachers' virtual travelogue allows students at the High School of Economics and Finance to travel and learn all around New York State during the pandemic without ever leaving the comfort of their lower Manhattan campus.

‘The foundation of CTE’

Each year since 1984, several of the city’s Career and Technical Education graduates have been nominated for the Success Via Apprenticeship program, which combines college courses with apprenticeships in classrooms and in each student’s chosen...

Courage in ‘a moment of great danger’

The courage and hard work of members during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was recognized on Nov. 7 at the UFT's annual Teacher Union Day celebration, held in Shanker Hall at UFT headquarters in Manhattan and online via Zoom.

Testimony regarding school policies related to discipline and and suspension and proposed state legislation

UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT member Jennifer Rosario, a bilingual social worker covering five Brooklyn high schools, testified on the need for the state to make sure resources reach the schools as part of any changes to state discipline...

A revolutionary teaching tool

ChatGPT, a new artificial intelligence tool launched in November 2022, has the potential to be a game-changer for both students and teachers.

UFT Educator Panel

Eight New York City public school educators, selected from hundreds of applicants, met with education and political leaders at the “Listen Up: The reality is…” UFT Educator Panel on April 14 and detailed what they need to best help students succeed.

Stop shelving school libraries

Approximately 30% of New York City schools don’t have libraries, and there are only 250 certified school librarians throughout a system with more than 1,800 schools. School libraries are needed more than ever.

Where math goes to get cool

Forget what you think you know about math: At the National Museum of Mathematics in Manhattan, it’s not something you work on with pencil and paper.

History of the UFT pension plan

New pension plan tiers come into existence when the state Legislature enacts new laws that change benefits, contribution rates and service requirements. But a pension tier is never set in amber. Over the past 40 years, legislative amendments to each...

Building rapport from the start

As any seasoned teacher will tell you, it’s important to start the school year off on a good note. Along with essentials like reviewing classroom rules and units of study, ice breakers play a key role in setting the right tone and building rapport...

Open Market Transfer Plan

If you want a new opportunity, wish to work closer to home or have been placed in excess, the Open Market Transfer Plan gives you the chance to apply for a position at another school. This Q&A addresses the most commonly asked questions about the...

Victoria Lee becomes UFT treasurer

Teachers’ Retirement System Board teacher-member trustee Victoria Lee was elected UFT treasurer by the union’s Executive Board. Lee filled the spot left vacant by the retirement of Debra Penny, who stepped down as UFT treasurer in December.

A new update about the NYC Medicare Advantage Plus Plan

Due to the ongoing litigation, the UFT strongly voiced its opinion that the New York City Medicare Advantage Plus Plan should not take effect until an orderly transition and continuity of services for retirees can be guaranteed.

COVID tests for adults

With the number of COVID-19 cases across the city on the rise, the increase in breakthrough infections and the threat of the new Omicron variant, in-school testing of unvaccinated students only was clearly no longer not enough. That’s why the UFT...

Resolution on member engagement during contract negotiations

The UFT will continue to raise our collective voices towards achieving a fair, just and representative contract.

Efforts to restrict teaching of racism multiply

A nationwide campaign to restrict the teaching of racism and bias is affecting the education of more than 17.7 million public school students, according to a new UCLA study.

Teacher shortages abruptly close schools

Schools around the United States are canceling in-person instruction with very little notice due to staffing issues, including teacher shortages and staff fatigue, exacerbated by the pandemic.

Pre-K, 3-K still a fight

Our #StartStrong campaign continues. The city and the DOE must do more to put our city’s youngsters on the path to educational success.

District 12 Scholarship Breakfast 2023

District 12’s Scholarship Breakfast, which has grown in size every year since its 2018 inception, brought nearly 500 attendees to Villa Barone Manor in the Bronx on June 3.

UFT founder Leo Hoenig dies

Leo Hoenig, a founder of the UFT and longtime active member of the Retired Teachers Chapter, died on June 3 at age 86.

Asian American curriculum resolution

The UFT supports the inclusion of AAPIs in the DOE Mosaic Curriculum; and may it be further resolved, that the UFT partner with the Asian American Education Project in moving forward state legislation supporting the inclusion of curriculum...

Resolution on IEP writing during contractual work hours

The United Federation of Teachers calls on all members to adhere to the principle that IEP writing should occur exclusively during contractual work hours.

Paras get Teacher’s Choice money

After years of advocacy by the UFT, paraprofessionals will be included in the Teacher’s Choice program for the first time this school year.


UFT Irish American Heritage Committee dinner

Some 50 members gathered at UFT headquarters on April 13 at the UFT Irish American Heritage Committee's annual dinner for an evening of connecting with one another and learning about Irish culture, art and history.

Give us ‘RESPECT’!

Our paraprofessionals have waited long enough. It’s time for the New York City Council to pass the bill providing a $10,000 annual “RESPECT check” for all New York City public school paraprofessionals.

Vouchers hurt Florida schools

Two years after Florida expanded a law allowing tax dollars to fund private school scholarships, school districts across Florida are facing declining enrollment and the loss of millions of dollars in public funding as more families opt for state...

Medicare Part B and IRMAA reimbursement update

If you are eligible for IRMAA, now is the time to file it. Read for more details and important links.

Climate preparation

When record rainfall caused serious flooding in New York City on Sept. 29, city officials were caught off guard and then botched communication with schools about how to deal with it. There are much better ways to deal with a significant weather event...

Resolution to support New York City paraprofessionals’ fight for a living wage and fair contract

The UFT shall educate its members about the significant implications of the Paraprofessionals and Education Support Staff Bill of Rights and the Preparing and Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act, emphasizing the potential benefits for...

Don’t phone it in

Cell phones in schools distract from teaching and learning and can threaten students’ mental health by feeding an addiction to social media. Barring them from classrooms makes sense, but any citywide ban has to be carefully conceived and implemented...

More support for general ed classrooms

I have been an occupational therapist for the city for over eight years. I love working with children inside and outside the classroom. However, it seems to me in all the schools I’ve been in (I’ve worked in more than 13 schools, including a number...

Don’t defund schools

It is a crucial year for New York City public schools as educators continue to help students recover from pandemic learning loss and isolation while welcoming some 14,000 newly arrived migrant children. But for the second year in a row, Mayor Eric...

Tax deduction for educators now $300

Eligible educators can deduct from their federal income taxes up to $300 of unreimbursed expenses from 2023 for books, supplies, computer equipment and other materials they use in the classroom. The agency raised the deduction from $250 to $300 for...

Retirees to stay in current health plans

Medicare-eligible UFT retirees will remain in their current health plans for the time being after a state judge’s ruling triggered a delay in the launch of the New York City Medicare Advantage Plus Plan.

Paraprofessionals attend "Suffs" on Broadway

Several hundred paraprofessionals who contribute to COPE, the union’s political action fund, attended a performance of Suffs, the Broadway musical about women’s battle for the right to vote, as an expression of thanks from the UFT.

Taking control of AI

Artificial intelligence is a rapidly evolving field that is affecting every aspect of our lives, including education. It is incumbent on us to add our voices to help shape and develop AI to ensure it is used to support teaching and learning, not to...