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Finalist selected for in-service health insurance contract
The following notification was emailed to all members as part of the UFT Update on June 11, 2025.
Are paraprofessionals eligible for tuition reimbursement for credits towards a masters degree?
The DOE will reimburse eligible full-time paraprofessionals for the cost of up to 12 credits towards a master’s degree in education. Paras must be in an accredited graduate education program as a fully matriculated student leading to New York State...
I am a paraprofessional and I have been excessed. What does that mean?
Paraprofessionals shall be retained in their school or work site in accordance with their seniority. If excessing occurs because of lack of work, the least senior employee will be excessed from the school or site. Unless a principal denies the...
Other Professional Work (OPW) and List of Activities Appendix F 2023
On Tuesdays when school is in session there will be a 40-minute block for Other Professional Work activities as set forth in Section D of this Article. (2023 MOA) Amend Article 6B1d to include: Add the following to list of OPW activities: IEP...
Paperwork and Operational Resolution Process Presentation 2023
In the 2014 UFT contract, the DOE and UFT established System-wide Standards and a process to resolve concerns regarding excessive paperwork. Successful UFT and DOE collaboration with the Paperwork Standards were the basis for expanding this process...
DOE session time memo
DOE procedures for school session time reporting, updated yearly.
Showing their colors
Thousands of UFT members wore blue to work in solidarity with their paraprofessional colleagues on April 2, which was national Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day and the union’s citywide Day of Action.
Hotline to a helping hand
More than a year into its operation, the Retired Paraprofessional Support line has proved more successful than anticipated — both for those calling in and for those answering the phones.
UFT calls on Speaker Adrienne Adams to support the "Paraprofessional Respect" bill
UFT President Michael Mulgrew, UFT officers, educators and elected officials called on City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to schedule a public hearing on the proposed "Paraprofessional Respect" bill.
City Council passes historic paraprofessional "Respect Check" legislation 49-0
The New York City Council unanimously passed the "Respect Check" legislation which will provide each NYC public school paraprofessional a $10,000 payment outside of collective bargaining in the coming school year.
I am a paraprofessional and I need to take a leave of absence. What am I entitled to?
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...
Wearing blue for a fair contract
UFT members united in blue on Oct. 13, 2022, in support of a fair DOE-UFT contract.
Educators seek more time for students
Administrative tasks get in the way of their students’ learning, according to 87% of educators in the union's new survey of its school-based members, who handed out a leaflet with the poll results across the five boroughs during a Week of Action in...
Contract 2023: Sick, personal & other leave time
Additional details regarding leave time and personal issues covered in the 2023 contract.
Money, power and ‘RESPECT’
More than 1,600 paraprofessionals and fellow UFT members came together from across the city on April 2 to call on the New York City Council to pass legislation to give paraprofessionals an annual “RESPECT check” of $10,000.
Fight for RESPECT continues
Paraprofessionals fanned out across the city in January to sit down with City Council members to urge them to support a revised "RESPECT check" bill that would provide an annual check of no less than $10,000 to the educators whose ranks are suffering...
Making the leap — together
This school year, PS 133 in Harlem has three newly minted teachers who were employed as paraprofessionals at the school the previous year. The three, who have fashioned a mini support group for one another, are grateful for the help of the union and...
Do UFT paraprofessionals have to pay when they go on school trips?
The answer is NO! If the school wants you to accompany a teacher and a class on a school trip, then the school is responsible for your transportation, admission fees and expenses to be incurred as a result of the excursion.
2025 Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon
Nearly 1,100 paraprofessionals and other members gathered at the New York Hilton Midtown on March 22 to celebrate the outstanding work of their colleagues, attend professional learning sessions and have fun at a carnival. City Council Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph, a key supporter of the RESPECT check legislation, was the keynote speaker.
Paraprofessional Awards Luncheon 2026
More than 1,000 paraprofessionals gathered at the New York Hilton Midtown on March 7 for their UFT chapter’s annual awards luncheon. The event included professional learning sessions, a resource fair and carnival, and the presentation of awards to outstanding paraprofessionals from all five boroughs.
School secretary online training guidance
School secretary online training guidance from Principals' Digest - as stipulated in 2023 contract
Article Twelve — School Retentions and Excessing
A. Retention Paraprofessionals shall be retained in their school or work site in accordance with their seniority. If excessing occurs because of lack of work, the least senior employee will be excessed from the school or site, except that he/she may...
Salary Upgrade Guide for Paraprofessionals
A step-by-step guide for paraprofessionals applying for salary upgrades.
DOE Memo: Career Training Program Release Time for UFT Paraprofessionals
Paraprofessionals who meet the requirements indicated in this memo are eligible for release time for non-classroom study or travel from work to their college/university. The NYCDOE will grant release time each college semester (fall, spring and the...
Federation of Nurses/UFT approve contract with NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn
Members of the Federation of Nurses/UFT ratified a new contract that raises nurses' salaries at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn by a compounded 15.8 percent and requires the hospital to hire 100 nurses to address chronic understaffing.
‘Enough is enough’
The UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter launched a new RESPECT campaign at its Nov. 21 paraprofessional representatives meeting to demand that the Department of Education pay paraprofessionals more, value their work and uphold their rights.
New telehealth benefit
The UFT has created a new telehealth benefit for members who are not eligible for city health insurance. UFT members who are substitute paraprofessionals, per-diem teachers and members of the union’s ADAPT Community Network Chapter can now access...
Which teachers and paraprofessionals need to earn CTLE hours to maintain their state certifications?
Teachers who hold professional teaching certificates and paraprofessionals who hold Level III teaching assistant certificates need to earn CTLE hours. Teachers who hold entry-level certificates (initial, conditional initial, Transitional A...
Are IEP-assigned paraprofessionals (individual and small group) required to attend related service sessions?
The management needs section of the student’s IEP must make clear the circumstances during the school day, including related services and nonacademic settings such as lunch and transitions, for which the student requires the support of a...