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Special Education Intervention Teacher (formerly known as IEP teacher)
Recommended
The Special Education Intervention Teacher is a centrally funded learning specialist. Learn more about this position and the role these educators play for students with disabilities.
Fostering pride in creativity
Jennifer Figueroa believes that anyone can be an artist. And the Bronx native, now in her third year of teaching art at PS 178 in Co-op City, knows that an expansive definition of "artist" helps kids take pride in all kinds of creativity.
Mentoring boys of color
Kappa League, a program that offers Black and Latino high school boys a chance to develop leadership skills while preparing for college, now has a small but growing presence in New York City public schools thanks to the efforts of two UFT members.
Recovering ‘what was lost’
Dial-A-Teacher, the UFT’s homework help line that offers K–12 students free assistance from city Department of Education teachers in all school subjects in seven languages, is back for its 41st year.
How many sick days do teachers have each year? How many personal days?
UFT represented DOE employees may take up to 10 self-treated days per school year without a doctor’s note for absences due to illness. Three out of the 10 may be used for personal business. Paras may not take more than five in a term and must have a...
Special classes for ELLs/MLLs
English Language Learners (ELLs)/Multi-Lingual Learners (MLLs) recommended to receive specialized instruction in special classes may be served in bilingual special classes or in special classes with students who are not ELLs/MLLs.
Specially Designed Instruction
The delivery of specially designed instruction is the core job responsibility of special education teachers. IDEA regulations define “specially designed instruction” as “adapting, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child under this part, the...
Guidance for the 2025-26 school year
Read the latest special education guidance, policies and protocols for the 2025-26 school year .
Article Twelve — Chapter 683 Program
Employees who elect to be employed in the Board's program which implements Chapter 683 of the Laws of 1986 ("Program") shall serve under the following terms and conditions of employment during July and August: The gross annual salary rate of each...
Do Paraprofessionals do Lunch Duty?
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...
UFT celebrates class size milestone
The UFT traveled to IS 145 in Queens on Sept. 4 to celebrate the school's achievement in bringing all 6th-grade classrooms into compliance with the state class size law limits. This year, 6th-grade classes will have a limit of 23 students, down from...
Speaking her students’ language
Candy Jorge, a Spanish teacher at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in Manhattan, came to the United States from her native Dominican Republic at the age of 17 with nothing. Now the 9th-grade team leader develops and implements...
Chancellor's Regulation A-449: Safety Transfers
This regulation sets forth the procedures for granting safety transfers (1) when students are victims of a violent criminal offense on school property; and (2) in other situations, when it is determined that a student’s continued presence in the...
A safe Nest for autistic students
A team of teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists and other related service providers create an environment where students with autism and general education students can learn in their 5th-grade Nest classroom at PS 682 in Brooklyn.
Federal Laws, Regulations and Policy Guidance
Review this page to reference federal laws, regulations and policy guidance regarding special education.
How I found my voice in my ELL students
A Queens elementary school teacher writes of discovering their own voice along with their newcomer students' during the struggles and triumphs of their first year of teaching in this latest entry of New Teacher Diaries.
What are the required components of a successful ICT program?
ICT is an instructional model that allows students with disabilities to be educated with age‐appropriate peers without disabilities in the general education classroom with the support of a special education teacher to deliver specially designed...
How I calculated true 'success'
An elementary school teacher shares what a math lesson taught him about a new way to measure success in this latest installment of New Teacher Diaries.
Back to basics
After a year in which instruction was disrupted by the pandemic, that back-to-basics approach of phonics-based reading instruction may be especially important to help struggling readers take concrete steps toward progress.
Paraprofessional Handbook
Read the Paraprofessionals Chapter Member Handbook, which was designed to be a source of information, offering insights, resources, and tools for paraprofessionals.
Special class curriculum
Students in special classes participate in the general education curriculum, with accommodations and supports, unless otherwise specified on their IEPs.
Ready for remote
As COVID-19 ravaged New York City and forced schools to shut down, Brian Nagy enjoyed a unique position. He was ready for remote.
Centers of attention
When Cara Jacofsky began her teaching career 23 years ago, she was determined to become the best teacher she could be for her students, so she connected with the UFT Teacher Center. “The first few years of my teaching career, they would plan lessons...
Viral Hepatitis
The United Federation of Teachers prepared this pamphlet to answer questions asked by school staff who are concerned about catching hepatitis from their students or fellow staff members.
At the top of his game
CTE Award winning teacher Craig Cannizzaro has a knack for getting his students in his video design class at Ralph McKee CTE HS on Staten Island animated about coding and other key software engineering skills.
With a song in his heart
“There is no music like live music. It’s a transcendent experience,” says Thomas Wright, the new music teacher at Edward R. Murrow HS in Midwood, Brooklyn.
Wright, who previously taught elsewhere in the country, took the job in September, attracted...
A real page-turner
Heaping pallets of high-interest books greeted new teachers on Aug. 13 at the United Federation of Teachers’ Bronx borough office, where they were able to choose 50 volumes each from among the thousands offered to build their classroom libraries as...
Professional periods
There are often questions about our Professional Activities/Administrative Duties — Article 6R — and speech teachers.
I am a retiree and have a special skill. How would I teach a course through the UFT's retired teachers program?
Contact the coordinator of the Si Beagle Learning Center where you would like to teach and make an appointment to discuss your idea. Bring your resume and a course outline. You can also mail a copy of your resume and course outline to: UFTWF Retiree...
I hold a certificate from another state. Do I still have to apply for a New York State teacher certificate?
Yes, you must hold a New York State certificate to teach in the state's public schools. Reciprocity under the Interstate Agreement of Qualification of Educational Personnel is limited to coursework requirements only. You must complete any examination...
Advance FAQ
See answers to frequently asked questions about the Advance evaluation system in this DOE FAQ.
Speech Survival Class
The UFT Speech Improvement Chapter offers a “Speech Survival Class” for new speech teachers, those who joined the Department of Education within the last three years or who are returning after a prolonged absence. The syllabus covers topics that will help registrants understand and manage their roles and responsibilities on the job.
Can virtual learning be used for credit recovery purposes?
No, and here’s why: Virtual learning is described in the 2023 MOA with the goal of becoming “the first major public-school system to develop, implement and expand high-quality virtual instruction and related services, for all students who choose this...
I was a paraprofessional and am now a teacher. How do I transfer my CAR sick days and vacation days from my para bank to my new bank?
Following a title change (e.g., from paraprofessional to teacher or another role), employees may transfer days from their old bank to their new bank by filling out a CAR Transfer Request form . The school payroll secretary processes the form to...