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Who needs to complete DASA training?
School professionals (teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, psychologists and social workers) who are applying for state certification must take this six-hour course. This includes members who are applying for new certificates (for example...
How do I know which payroll bank on the DOE payroll calendar applies to my job title?
The DOE school year payroll calendar lists pay periods for different payroll banks. Different job titles are paid through different banks: H-bank: Full-time school nurses, therapists, audiologists, sign language interpreters, education analysts...
What is Chapter 408 and what does it require for a student's IEP?
Chapter 408 refers to state law and corresponding regulations requiring that: each provider responsible for implementing a student’s IEP (including general and special education teachers, related service providers, and other service providers), be...
Can teachers take time off for religious observance for important holidays in their faith?
Yes. You may use your three personal business days for religious observance. These will be deducted from your CAR (sick bank) or you may take a pay deduction for each day that you do not report to work. The deducted amount will equal the amount that...
What do I do if I am exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials at work?
While most New York City school educators are not at risk, if you are exposed to blood or body fluids in an accident, playground scrape, bloody nose, fight, athletic injury or violent incident, treat any such incident as if the fluids are infected...
How can personal days be used?
You can use three of your 10 days for personal business, provided that the days are approved by your principal. Personal business is officially defined as something that cannot be done at any time other than a school day, during school hours...
What protective measures against bloodborne pathogens must the DOE provide?
The DOE is required to develop an Exposure Control Plan that: identifies at-risk workers; outlines methods to prevent or eliminate exposure, including universal precautions and the use of safe needle devices; outlines adequate personal protective...
Are there any illnesses for which time off will not be deducted from my sick bank?
Yes. Measles, mumps and chicken pox are childhood diseases that are not deductible from your sick time. Ask your school secretary or UFT chapter leader for an OP 198 application to submit to your principal. Form: http://www.uft.org/files/attachments...
What help can the UFT provide if students are not receiving the support and services required by their IEPs or the school is not adhering to the special education regulations and requirements set out in the DOE’s Standard Operating Procedures Manual?
There are two avenues for resolving special education issues: your school’s Special Education Committee or the special education complaint. Issues that can be brought to the Special Education Committee include the failure to properly staff special...
Do any UFT members qualify for a tax credit for overtime pay?
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets nationwide rules for minimum wage, overtime pay and recordkeeping for most public and private workers. Employees covered by the FLSA may qualify for a new IRS-approved tax credit. Among UFT-represented...
What are grievances used for?
The grievance procedure is there to protect your rights and ensure that the contract is adhered to. You can file a grievance in order to remedy a violation of the UFT/DOE contract or DOE regulation, circular or established practice. Your chapter...
How long are the first two workdays of the new school year?
For teachers and paraprofessionals, the first two workdays before students return are both 6 hours and 50 minutes long. For other titles, Tuesday follows regular work hours and Wednesday is six hours and 50 minutes.
Is filing a grievance the only way to resolve an issue with a school administrator?
Not at all. Before filing a grievance, it is always a good idea to speak with your chapter leader about resolving the issue informally. Our contract also provides for a number of other ways to resolve issues including the operational process for...
Who is eligible to take A+ courses?
All teachers are eligible to take A+ courses for their own knowledge, development and to earn credit toward a salary differential. A+ courses may only be taken for credit by teachers. If you are a guidance counselor, paraprofessional, school...
How much is the UFT Welfare Fund disability benefit?
As of Nov. 1, 2024, teachers and other pedagogues approved for this benefit receive $575 a week for up to 52 weeks, while paraprofessionals and other groups in the same salary range receive $475 per week for up to 52 weeks. Learn more about...
How do I get paid during the summer?
Pedagogues and paraprofessionals receive 24 semi-monthly checks — 20 for your service from September to June and four for July and August. To be eligible for full vacation pay, you need to have worked the entire school year. If you worked less than a...
Is there a waiting period before disability benefits begin?
Yes. For pedagogues, there is a 28-day unpaid waiting period after your sick bank is exhausted and you have been removed from the DOE payroll. For non-pedagogical employees and paraprofessionals, there is a 14-day unpaid waiting period which begins...
Do members working per-session over the summer receive sick time/CAR days?
During a per-session summer activity, pedagogues and paraprofessionals accrue one sick day for each month of service. If you don't take a sick day in July, you can take two in August. One sick day taken during a per-session summer activity can be...
Which school staff members receive funding from Teacher’s Choice?
Classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, school counselors, social workers and psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, school nurses, school secretaries, lab specialists, reading coaches and single shepherds all receive funds through...
How do I find out what my annual salary is and how often we get paid?
Checks for appointed pedagogues and annualized paraprofessionals are issued on a semi-monthly basis, on the 15th and 30th of each month. You can verify your current pay by logging in to the DOE Payroll Portal: https://payrollportal.nycboe.net. For...
Am I eligible to join the UFT?
You can enroll in the UFT if you are a New York City Department of Education pedagogue, paraprofessional, hourly group or retiree, or if you belong to one of the charter or private schools, hospitals or non-profit organizations in which employees...
Who needs to be certified?
Classroom teachers, administrative and supervisory personnel, paraprofessionals and pupil personnel service professionals are required to hold a certificate issued by New York State in order to be employed in the state's public schools. Certificates...
What happens if allegations against me are substantiated?
For Probationary Pedagogues and all other administrative titles (including Paraprofessionals), the agencies will make a recommendation to the Principal (or other supervisor for non-school based members) about potential discipline. For Tenured...
Do I have to join the union? Is membership automatic?
The answer to both these questions is no. The UFT is a democratic union and no one is forced to join. Nevertheless, an amazing 96 percent of all potential members choose to become UFT members. Nor is membership automatic, a frequent misconception...
When are teachers supposed to hold IEP meetings for students with disabilities?
IEP meetings should happen during instructional time or the teacher’s professional activity period. Under the 2023 DOE-UFT contract (Article 6B1d), IEP conferences can now also be scheduled during the 40-minute block of Other Professional Work on...
When are CAR days/sick time earned and credited?
Cumulative Absence Reserve (CAR) is the formal name for UFT-represented pedagogical DOE employees’ “sick bank" of days. All titles earn one CAR day per month after serving 16 days on payroll. The day is added to the members CAR bank on the 30th of...
Are mandated providers, including special education and general education teachers in ICT classes, allowed to cover other duties during provision of service time?
No. Professionals who are obligated to provide services as mandated on IEPs (including special education teachers, general education teachers in ICT classes, related service providers, and paraprofessionals) must serve each student as mandated and...
How many CTLE hours must I earn to maintain my state certification?
Teachers with professional certification and paraprofessionals who hold a Level III teaching assistant certificate must complete 100 CTLE hours every five years to maintain their certification. You are required to register with NYSED in order to...
How do I enroll in the retirement system?
If you are an appointed teacher, paraprofessional or other pedagogue in a city public school, the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) will send you a welcome letter explaining the online enrollment procedure. Most others, including nurses, therapists...
Can a member take child care leave after their parental leave ends or must they return to service first?
Members with at least one year of service, or paraprofessionals with at least two years of service, may apply for an unpaid child care leave immediately following a UFT parental leave. The child care leave can extend to the August following the...
I am a pre-K teacher. What responsibilities do I have regarding the toileting/diapering/bathroom needs of my students?
While paraprofessionals must be available to change soiled diapers or clothes promptly, teachers are responsible for the health and safety of the classroom environment and should take any steps necessary to maintain a safe and clean environment, such...
What can I do if staff members at my school are asked to complete excessive amounts of paperwork?
The last three DOE-UFT contracts contain provisions for paperwork reduction. If members are asked to complete redundant or excessive paperwork, you can raise this with your school's chapter leader, who is empowered to resolve these issues. A chapter...
If both parents work for the DOE, are both eligible for UFT parental leave?
Both parents are each entitled to six weeks of UFT parental leave if they both work for the DOE in UFT-represented titles. In the 2023 DOE-UFT contract, the union fixed a thorny issue with the original 2018 parental leave agreement: When both the...
How do I change my name on record with the UFT?
You must provide a legal document (marriage certificate, etc.) for proof of name change. If you receive Welfare Fund benefits, you should fill out the fill out the Welfare Fund’s Change of Status Form on the UFT website to change your name. If you...
When can I start my UFT parental leave?
If you physically gave birth to a child, you may use your available CAR/sick day balance immediately after your child’s birth for up to a maximum of six calendar weeks (eight weeks for a C-section) before beginning UFT parental leave for an...
What is LearnUFT and how can it help me earn CTLE credits?
As a state-approved provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) hours, the UFT's LearnUFT program offers professional learning opportunities specifically designed to meet our members’ needs. State regulations now require all teachers...