When you return from a leave of absence, in most cases you return to your school or worksite. In some cases, you may be excessed while on a leave, if you were the least senior person in your license area and your school experienced a drop in...

If you are excessively absent or late, you may receive a letter for your official file. If you are tenured, the DOE has the right, with sufficient notice, to file disciplinary charges against you. There is a special, expedited procedure when the DOE...

The Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) issues this individualized report each fall to in-service members and members on a leave of absence for up to seven school years. The statement summarizes the members' Total Service Credit and lists their...

You must include: Your name Address Phone number Retirement date Social Security number A pension deduction authorization Please make sure to also sign off on the pension deduction authorization, or you will be charged a $30 administrative fee. If...

You may receive credit to reduce your probationary time if you worked as a regular substitute or as an appointed teacher in the same license area and same division (i.e., elementary, junior high, high school) in which you are subsequently approved...

You can apply for a sabbatical by logging onto the DOE's Self Online Leave Application System (SOLAS). SOLAS is available at https://apps.schools.nyc/solas. If you are a teacher with 7 years of service, you could be eligible for a six-month...

If your professional certificate is in English to Speakers of Other Languages or you hold a bilingual extension annotation, a minimum of 50% of your CTLE hours must be in language acquisition, including a focus on best practices for co-teaching...

Pedagogues — teachers, school counselors, school secretaries, school psychologists and social workers, and lab specialists — who are injured or made sick on the job are covered by the Line of Duty Injury provision of the DOE-UFT contract. Other UFT...

In order to change a license/appointment, you must have the certificate needed for the new appointment and a principal’s recommendation to fill a vacancy in the new area. Teachers who change their license/appointment area go back on probation for at...

Yes, but the required age differs depending on when you joined the retirement system and what pension tier you are in. To find out the minimum age you must reach before collecting full or reduced pension benefits, you can speak to a pension...

The workday of a substitute para is based on a workday of 6 hours and 50 minutes, inclusive of lunch. The student day ends after 6 hours and 20 minutes. The school to which the para is assigned has the discretion to decide whether the substitute must...

Mail or fax a paper stating you would like to cancel your COPE contribution. The request should include your Name, Member ID# or File# and most recent mailing address. Once we receive the request, it is processed and sent to the City. Once processed...

The workday of a substitute para is based on a workday of 6 hours and 50 minutes, inclusive of lunch. The student day ends after 6 hours and 20 minutes. The school to which the para is assigned has the discretion to decide whether the substitute must...

To be "F-status" means you are working as a per diem employee engaged for a full term but for less than five full days per week (e.g., 2 days every week). The full/part-time employee receives a salary pro-rated for the time worked at 1/200th of the...

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...

You should be aware that the Office of Teaching Initiatives does not endorse, pre-approve, or accredit programs or coursework completed at institutions located outside the State of New York. Information regarding colleges and universities within New...

If they are the retiree's pension beneficiary, they can contact the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) and the UFT Pension Department. A member's beneficiary (or representative) must first submit a certified or original death certificate to TRS for...

Your evaluator must conduct an Initial Planning Conference with you no later than the last Friday in October. This in-person conversation between you and your evaluator should take place at a mutually agreed upon time. This conference is an...

Yes. Through Feb. 1, 2024, school counselors received provisional and permanent state certification. As of Feb. 2, 2024, school counselors will be issued initial and professional certification instead. Both certifications will continue to be...

Members who receive letters of discontinuance should file an appeal through their borough office. See the hours and locations of UFT borough offices. Anyone who has been discontinued should ask to copy everything in their personnel file. Teachers are...

Yes. The Paraprofessional Bill was signed by the Governor on Oct. 29, 2021, and paraprofessionals in the following titles are now automatically members of TRS: Auxiliary Trainer; Bilingual Professional Assistant; Educational Assistant; Educational...

If you haven't otherwise been informed, the number and type of observations you receive will change once you are tenured. If tenure was granted, you would be assigned a minimum of two informal observations as part of your yearly teacher evaluation...

A teacher, or other professional staff member, may request that a child be evaluated by completing the Request for Referral form (in SESIS). After receiving the request, the principal must take one of two actions within 10 school days: (1) request...

UFT members’ dues pay for the full array of services that your union provides to support you and your career — everything from professional support services and development to help you be better at your job to negotiating and enforcing the contract...

Your prep period can only be taken away in an emergency, such as a coverage for a teacher absence. You can lose multiple preps over the course of a semester due to an emergency need, but you will be paid for all lost preps at the current contractual...

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...

Excessing is not a layoff. A person in excess is not out of a job. You will continue to work and receive your full pay and benefits. You can check your status (Excessed or Not Excessed) on the online Open Market Transfer system. This is helpful...

In addition to the defined benefit Qualified Pension Plan, the Teachers’ Retirement System and the Board of Education Retirement System offer a voluntary program, the Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA) that allows you to save additional money for your...

Instructions to "shelter-in" for a drill or actual emergency means to seek safety within the building one already occupies, rather than to evacuate. Students are trained to: Remain inside of the building Conduct business as usual Respond to specific...

At the end of your five-year cycle, you will be asked to verify whether you have met the 100-hour requirement. You should not submit any documentation to the state Office of Teaching Initiatives; however, you should keep your records for at least...

The federal SECURE Act 2.0 has raised the age at which individuals must begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their retirement accounts to 73, as of January 2023. The RMD age has increased to 73 for people who turn age 72 after 2022...

All full-time teachers, school staff, union members and retirees may be eligible to join the Theatre Development Fund (TDF). Once you qualify for membership, you can purchase deeply discounted tickets to Broadway, off-Broadway and other performances...

You are entitled to only one final consultation during your career, so most members complete them in the final months of work. To make an appointment, call 212-331-6311 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meetings are scheduled in the...

If you are audited and asked to submit proof of CTLE hours and you have not completed them, you may not be allowed to work in a New York State public school until you have met the requirements. If you do not complete the required CTLE hours before...

Workers’ Compensation is a form of insurance, paid for in advance by your employer, which entitles you to full medical coverage and part of your salary for job-related injuries and illnesses. You are entitled to Workers’ Compensation no matter whose...

It is essential to keep your personal information up to date to ensure the receipt of the New York Teacher, information about UFT activities and Welfare Fund health benefits. There are several ways you can update your address: The quickest way to...