When a teacher is absent, the principal should always attempt to cover that class, preferably with a substitute teacher. When a substitute is not available, the principal should first ask for volunteers to cover the class and, if that doesn’t work...

Partners in Progress: Peer Intervention Program (PIP) is a collaboration between the UFT and the DOE to provide pedagogical and professional support to tenured teachers delivered by fellow expert educators, founded in 1988. PIP provides confidential...

If you have a difference of professional judgment with your supervisor, Article 24 in the contract provides you with a mechanism for resolving it that is similar to nonbinding mediation. Often an entire staff or department uses this procedure to...

If you have a reasonable suspicion that a student has been abused, maltreated or neglected, you are required by law to file a report with the State Central Register personally by calling 800-635-1522. Your job is to report the suspicion, not to...

The school consultation committee is a contractual right that gives school chapters voice and empowers them to address and resolve school issues. The principal is required to meet with your UFT chapter committee once a month at a mutually agreeable...

The Department of Education and its employees are prohibited from discriminating against you on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age handicapping condition or membership in, participation...

Before the end of June and by the opening of school in September, your chapter committee should meet with your principal to discuss and have input into the school’s budget. This contractual provision also requires the principal to share school...

School Leadership Teams must be established in each school. There are three mandatory members: the principal, the Parents Association president and the UFT chapter leader or their designee. The committee should have at least 10 members but no more...

The widespread popularity of social media have created a new generation of problems and potential liabilities for educators. Teachers may be held responsible for content posted about them and by them on social networking sites. For those who have a...

If you travel to work by public transportation, you can save money by taking part in the City of New York Commuter Benefits Program, which covers New York City and the tri-state area. This city benefit enables UFT members to pay for allowable...

The city whistleblower law prohibits any “adverse personnel action” (dismissal, suspension, discipline, “U” rating, denial of assignment without justification) against you in retaliation for you making a report about the conduct of a DOE officer or...

Teachers were once required to punch in and out with a time clock, but the UFT was able to eliminate of that hold-over of factory-model teaching in the 1990s. Today, the principal must consult with the UFT chapter committee and establish alternate...

An absence due to a death in your immediate family is classified as a "non-attendance day," -- you receive full pay and it is not deducted from your Cumulative Absence Record (CAR). If your parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, spouse or...

This is the formal name for your bank of “sick days.” You are credited with one CAR day on the 16 th of each month of the school year, for a total of 10 days for the full school year. If you are regularly appointed, you can accumulate up to 200 CAR...

There is no specific number of absences that is automatically considered excessive. According to an arbitration award, facts and circumstances that must be considered include, but are not limited to, the employee’s attendance and work history...

You are entitled to full pay for time spent on jury duty. Your jury duty time during the school year is classified as non-attendance days. Jury duty that causes you to miss per session time does not count as non-attendance; if you miss per session...

Attendance at education conferences, meetings or conventions are treated as an excused absence with full pay and are not deducted from your CAR. Prior approval of the principal and superintendent are required.

If you are going to be absent due to religious observance, you should give your principal sufficient notice so that he or she can hire a substitute teacher for you. Your school secretary has the appropriate form for you to fill out. In many instances...

You may receive an excused absence to attend a graduation ceremony of a close family member. See the guidelines below: Pedagogues and paraprofessionals: One day with principal’s or supervisor’s permission to attend their graduation or that of a...

In the event of a major storm, the chancellor will determine whether to open, close or delay the opening of school. The union will try to convince the chancellor to do what is safe. The DOE may also pivot to remote instruction, for which digital...

As a newly hired pedagogue, you will receive an e-mail from the DOE’s Department of Human Resources with important information on next steps in your career. This information should be placed in your official school file, but you should keep a copy...

You must have a valid New York State certificate for the area or level you want to be eligible to teach. You can apply for a full-time teaching position that matches your certificate title. Once you are hired to fill a position, you will be licensed...

Keeping class sizes within proper limits is not just a professional right to enable you to do your job better; it’s also an educational benefit for students who can receive more individual attention. Learn more about the New York State class size law...

If your school has been designated to either close or be phased out, and a new school(s) is opened in your building, the contract provides a process by which you may apply for a position in that school(s). Fifty percent of the positions available by...

Despite many attempts to undercut it, section 3020-a of the State Education Law provides for due process before a tenured teacher or pedagogue can be disciplined or terminated, including for charges such as incompetence, corporal punishment...

Teachers in danger of being charged under section 3020-a of the State Education Law for incompetence may either volunteer or be recommended by their principal to participate in the Peer Intervention Program program to improve their teaching skills...

It is very important that all UFT-represented workers understand the regulations on corporal punishment and verbal abuse: Regulation of the Chancellor A-420 - Pupil Behavior and Discipline - Corporal Punishment Section 100.2 of the Regulations of the...

Failure to follow an administrator’s directive could be considered an act of insubordination and could lead to disciplinary action against you. If an administrator gives you a directive that you know violates the contract, you must obey it and then...

The DOE is required, under our contract and federal and state regulations, to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards, one that is safe, secure and well maintained. It is required to provide training to protect members against hazards that...

There are times when a school reduces the size of its faculty, such as when it experiences an unexpected drop in student enrollment, loses a budget line or pursuant to state or federal law, is being closed, or phased out. Excessing is the process of...

Unfortunately, UFT members sometimes report that their supervisors have harassed them. Harassment can take many forms — sexual harassment, biased acts or remarks, public ridicule and acts of intimidation are some examples. You do not have to — nor...

There are two parts to UFT members’ health coverage. As an employee with a regular assignment in the Department of Education, you are entitled to a choice of several health plans offered by the City of New York. Your choice will provide you and your...

Occasionally a Department of Education employee is sued (for example, by a parent) because of something he or she allegedly did at work. When the New York City Corporation Counsel finds that the employee broke no rules or laws in carrying out their...

Every UFT member has an official school file. There is only one official school file. No material derogatory to your conduct, service, character or personality should be placed in the file unless you have an opportunity to read the material. You will...

An incident, which has not been reduced to writing within three months of occurrence, excluding summer vacation, may not be added to the file later on. No material derogatory to a teacher’s conduct, service, character or personality shall be placed...

Counseling memos are not disciplinary. A counseling memo may only be written to an employee to make him/her aware of a rule, policy, procedure, practice or expectation. A counseling memo cannot include any disciplinary action or threat of...