It depends upon your years of service, your age of retirement, date of appointment, final average salary, and your pension tier, so it is highly individual. Attend a pension workshop or clinic to learn more. See upcoming events on the UFT website at...

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...

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...

Maintenance medications (those taken regularly over an extended period) cannot be filled in monthly quantities after they have been filled three (3) times (original prescription plus two (2) refills), regardless of the number of refills indicated on...

You must complete six hours of coursework from a provider approved by the New York State Education Department. You can find a list of approved providers at the NYSED website. The UFT is an approved provider and offers this course in its borough...

The UFT frequently offers CTLE workshops to members. Many UFT conferences also include CTLE workshops. You can see the latest opportunities on the UFT website. The AFT’s educational webinars grant CTLE hours for participating. Often professional...

For specific steps to take and forms to complete, visit the Line of Duty Injury section of the UFT website. The DOE’s Comprehensive Injury/Accident Report, including a description of the accident/incident and witness statements, must be filled out in...

Rehabilitation services (or “rehab”) are meant to help a patient reset some of the patterns that have led to the cycle of the addiction process. Rehab is where you stay at a facility for a set amount of time (up to 28 days, but can be shorter or...

In accordance with recent amendments to NYSED regulations, IEP teams must make certain considerations before determining that a student requires an IEP-assigned paraprofessional, and the student’s IEP must reflect those considerations in the relevant...

Excessing is the process of reducing staff in a particular school when there is a reduction in the number of available positions in a title or license area. There are times when a school reduces the size of its faculty, such as when it experiences an...

You should apply at least 15 days prior to the anticipated due or covered event date, but no later than 10 days after delivery to ensure timely payment of the benefit from the UFT. If your baby arrives much later than the due date, you can revise...

Under Line of Duty Injury, pedagogues may apply for important benefits, including paid time off from work to recover and reimbursement of medical expenses. If you are injured in the line of duty, your health plan covers your medical care. You can...

New members receive a “Designation of QPP (Qualified Pension Plan) Beneficiary Form” with their TDA enrollment application and should file both forms together. Participants in the Tax Deferred Annuity Program should designate a beneficiary for their...

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...

Paraprofessionals can apply for a leave of absence using SOLAS (Self-Service Online Leave Application System). It is an online system where employees may easily apply for a leave of absence from their computers or smartphones. Eligible leaves include...

Teachers, school psychologists, guidance counselors, school social workers, librarians, attendance teachers, school secretarial staff and laboratory specialists may be permitted to withdraw a resignation/retirement provided the following conditions...

The UFT's Political Action Department is active in a wide variety of political battles across the city in support of New York’s children and schools. Our Political Action Coordinators (PAC) are key players in this work. PACs handle Day to day borough...

Paraprofessionals who have been arrested will no longer be automatically suspended without pay, under the DOE’s updated policy, to resolve the UFT’s union-initiated grievance that challenged the unfairness of automatic suspensions. Paraprofessionals...

If your class exceeds the maximum number of students permitted, notify your chapter leader immediately. During the first 10 days of school (and the first 10 days of each term), the chapter leader and the principal will attempt to informally resolve...

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...

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...

If you still receive a paper paycheck, you should not cash or deposit it prior to the date printed on the check. New York City has an "early encashment" fee of $55 that they place on each checks that is deposited or cashed before the date printed on...

Who is eligible for Provider Wellness? Any NYC-based family child care provider – whether Family Day Care, Group Family Day Care or Legally Exempt (informal) – with at least one HRA/ACS child under care is eligible. What about my assistants? Are they...

You must notify your administration within 24 business hours of any accident or injury on school grounds or while on school business. Complete the DOE’s Comprehensive Injury Report and return it to your principal. Inform your chapter leader as soon...

What is Provider Wellness? Provider Wellness is an initiative funded by the NYS Department of Health and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), and designed and operated in the five boroughs of New York City by the UFT whose purpose is to improve...