Search
Search
School Counselors Chapter Newsletter - January 2026
Information about proctoring assignments, administrative duties and remote work.
What is the school’s obligation to provide Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) teachers regular common planning time?
Co-teachers must collaboratively plan, prepare and facilitate lessons, activities and projects, so they must be given regular common-planning time during the workday. According to the 2023 contract, schools with professional activity periods will...
I'm a member of a functional chapter represented by the UFT. Where can I find more information and news about issues specific to my job role?
UFT functional chapter members--such as a school counselor, a social worker or school secretary, for example--can find information tailored to their chapter's specific needs on the UFT website. Around 40 functional chapters have their own sections of...
Preparation periods
Among the many meaningful contractual rights UFT members have is time carved out for teachers to do unassigned professional work. Whether they teach elementary, middle or high school, teachers are generally entitled to five preparation periods per...
Appendix D — Procedures For Probable Cause Hearings
On October 2, 2005 the following understanding was reached regarding probable cause hearings: The UFT will conduct a meeting of lawyers who represent UFT members at 3020-a proceedings to inform them about the new procedures regarding offenses...
Appendix D — Procedures for Probably Cause Hearings
On October 2, 2005 the following understanding was reached regarding probable cause hearings: The UFT will conduct a meeting of lawyers who represent UFT members at 3020-a proceedings to inform them about the new procedures regarding offenses...
Appendix E — Procedures for Probably Cause Hearings
On October 2, 2005 the following understanding was reached regarding probable cause hearings: The UFT will conduct a meeting of lawyers who represent UFT members at 3020-a proceedings to inform them about the new procedures regarding offenses...
Appendix C — Grievance Forms Step 1 Grievance
The form below is a sample. Learn more about filing a grievance here. Grievance Sample Form School: Name of Grievant: Title: (teacher, guidance counselor, etc.:) File number: Date Grievance Occurred: Set forth specifically the act or condition and...
Resource Guide for Guidance Counselors
Guide for students, professionals and families listing support services in the New York metropolitan area. Compiled in the fall of 2009 by the following students of the school counseling graduate program at Queens College: Yahaira Bello, Crystal...
Communicating with members
Here are some tips and recommendations from fellow chapter leaders about communicating with your members.
Anti-Bullying Conference 2023
About 300 students from 18 middle schools came together at UFT headquarters to watch plays, role-play and discuss their experiences with bullying.
5K Family Run/Walk
UFT members and their families who participated in the the the union's eighth annual 5K family run/walk on May 14 raised more than $5,000 for the UFT Disaster Relief Fund to benefit educators and their families in war-torn Ukraine.
Georgia runoff result is just peachy
All eyes were on the purple state of Georgia in December as U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, faced — and defeated — former pro football player Herschel Walker in a runoff election, with campaign help from retired UFT members.
Retirees work the phones to elect Mamdani
In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 4 election, the Retired Teachers Chapter held a dozen afternoon phone banks at UFT headquarters in Manhattan, where RTC members urged fellow retirees to vote for Zohran Mamdani and the union’s other endorsed...
NYC educators turn up the heat for pension reform on Friday, 2/6
This Friday, 2/6, thousands of New York City public school educators are turning up the heat for pension reform by sharing their personal stories about why it's needed.
Appendix G — Procedures for Probable Cause Hearings
On October 2, 2005 the following understanding was reached regarding probable cause hearings: The UFT will conduct a meeting of lawyers who represent UFT members at Education Law §3020-a proceedings to inform them about the new procedures regarding...
Article Twenty-Seven — Definitions
Wherever the term “Board” is used in the Agreement it shall mean the City Board, it being understood, nevertheless, that this contract is binding on all community school districts in accordance with Section 2590 of the Education Law. Wherever the...
Article Twenty — Matters Not Covered
With respect to matters not covered by this Agreement which are proper subjects for collective bargaining, the Board agrees that it will make no changes without appropriate prior consultation and negotiation with the Union. The Board will continue...
Where do my UFT dues go?
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...
Article Fourteen — Matters Not Covered
With respect to matters not covered by this Agreement which are proper subjects for collective bargaining, the Board agrees that it will make no changes without appropriate prior consultation and negotiation with the Union. The Board will continue...
Appendix B — Use of Guidance Counselor Title
September 10, 1972 Mr. Albert Shanker United Federation of Teachers 260 Park Avenue South New York, New York 10010 Dear Mr. Shanker: This is to confirm the understanding reached during negotiations for the 1972-75 agreement concerning licensed...
Article Fifteen — Matters Not Covered
With respect to matters not covered by this Agreement which are proper subjects for collective bargaining, the Board agrees that it will make no changes without appropriate prior consultation and negotiation with the Chapter. The Board will continue...
Article Two — Fair Practices
The Union agrees to maintain its eligibility to represent all employees by continuing to admit persons to membership without discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, handicapping...
Article Fourteen — Matters Not Covered
With respect to matters not covered by this Agreement which are proper subjects for collective bargaining, the Board agrees that it will make no changes without appropriate prior consultation and negotiation with the Union. The Board will continue...
Overworked, Underutilized
How the Department of Education’s Reorganizations of Special Education Turned School Psychologists from Mental Health Professionals into Paper Pushers. A report by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, Nov. 2008.
What is the class size limit for music instruction courses?
In elementary and middle/intermediate schools, the contract is silent on class sizes for music instruction. It is the Union’s position that no class in elementary school should exceed 32 students (25 for kindergarten and 18 for pre-K) or 33 students...
Overview of the NYCE PPO plan
The following FAQs address common member questions about the NYC Employees PPO Plan (NYCE PPO) plan.
Testimony regarding high hospital costs and the impact on healthcare access
Geofrey Sorkin, UFT Welfare Fund Executive Director, testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding high hospital costs and the impact on healthcare access.
COVID monitoring, testing to continue
UFT President Michael Mulgrew told the Delegate Assembly on March 23 that while members should not let down their guard regarding COVID-19 protocols, the situation continues to improve.
Huge grievance victory in Queens
A UFT school chapter in Queens stood up to — and stood together against — a hostile principal and won.
A Brief History of the Chapter
Those of us who have worked as per diem hearing officers prior to February 2007, when the UFT filed the petition for union recognition on our behalf, can tell you what it was like to be working without the protection of a union.
Demanding what they’re owed
Fed up with the DOE’s delay in reimbursing them for travel expenses, itinerant related service providers went public with their frustrations in April. Occupational and physical therapists also called out the DOE for long delays in tuition...
You Should Know - School Counselors
Important information, forms and documents for school counselors.
What is considered bereavement leave?
You may take time following the death of a family member without loss of CAR days. If your parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, spouse or domestic partner, or parent of spouse or domestic partner or any other relative or step-relative of...
Appendix L — Consultants
Joel I. Klein Chancellor Department of Education 52 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007 December 17, 2007 Randi Weingarten President United Federation of Teachers 52 Broadway New York, NY 10002 Dear Ms. Weingarten: The parties have agreed to the...