The UFT strongly urges the Legislature to oppose the Governor’s proposal to increase the number of charter schools in the city and will continue to fight for fairness and equity for all New York City schools.

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...

More than 100 paraprofessionals at an Extended School Year program in Queens who went without pay for five weeks banded together, and with the help of the UFT, finally received the pay due to them. Find out what to do if you suspect your salary is...

At a March 4 legislative reception in Albany, UFT leaders pressed lawmakers to advance a slate of policies aimed at improving equity across New York’s education system, from Tier 6 retirement benefits to school funding and early childhood care...

UFT President Michael Mulgrew told union delegates at the Delegate Assembly on Jan. 17 that the UFT is moving full steam ahead with its lawsuit to stop Mayor Eric Adams’ school budget cuts. He said the mayor’s budget restorations in mid-January...

I’m proud that the UFT led the charge at the bargaining table and even prouder that we modeled participatory unionism at its best in the process leading up to the Municipal Labor Committee’s final vote on the new plan on Sept. 30. From the beginning...

Retirees with GHI Senior Care may now choose to purchase the 365‑day hospitalization rider separately from the prescription drug rider — you no longer have to buy both together. Learn more »

After months of organizing that culminated with a protest rally outside their school on April 16, staff and parents at PS 157 in the Bronx have spurred the Department of Education and NYPD to take immediate action to improve safety outside the...

Anne Goldman is the UFT's vice president for non-DOE and private sector members. Anne has a bachelor of science in nursing as well as an RN license from the New York State.

A recent class action settlement with the city and EmblemHealth will give Medicare-eligible retirees in GHI Senior Care a reimbursement for copays they paid between January 2022 and February 2023. We wanted to follow up with you to let you know more...

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) will award nearly $1 million in college scholarships to public high school students at its annual Shanker Awards ceremony on Tuesday, June 3 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., at UFT headquarters, 52 Broadway, Manhattan.

Students from more than 150 New York City middle and high schools will learn emotional coping skills through music during a virtual field trip, “Let’s Talk About It."

Creating podcasts with your middle and high school students isn’t just a trendy project, it’s a task that teaches important skills and is fun and motivating for students.

Find out about excused absences — occasions aside from personal illness — when UFT members (teachers, appointed pedagogues and other titles, such as paraprofessionals) are entitled to be absent from work but still get paid without using their CAR, or...

Cumulative Absence Reserve (CAR) is the formal name for the bank of “sick days” earned by UFT-represented employees who work for the city Department of Education (DOE). All full-time, school-based UFT members may earn up to 10 CAR days for the full...

Each year, thousands of retirees take advantage of Si Beagle Learning Center in-person and online courses, seminars, trips, and dining and theater experiences. The program is named for the late Si Beagle, who pushed the union to offer continuing...

The city of New York's health plan and the UFT Welfare Fund-provided supplemental health benefits are among a UFT member's most valuable assets. Learn about what both plans provide so that you and your eligible dependents can access these benefits...

Behind a door cleverly disguised as shelves at the back of the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company lies a “Secret Library” that houses 826NYC, a nonprofit organization whose true mission is to support student writers.

Jermaine Coley's warm, hands-on approach has made the second-year school counselor a respected and beloved figure at PS 284 in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

Paraprofessionals, nurses, and occupational and physical therapists injured or made sick on the job should file for Workers’ Compensation. In certain circumstances such as chronic illness, lab specialists and vocational teachers may also file for...

A. Excessing Rules — Appointed Counselors Before applying the Rules for involuntary excessing, the senior counselor within license who volunteers will be excessed from the school or program to a vacancy within the same district or, in the case of...

A. Retention of Regular Substitutes A regular substitute who, upon completion of one year of service in a school, has been notified in writing by the principal that he/she will be reassigned in that school for the following school year shall be...

A. School-Based Management/Shared Decision-Making (SBM/SDM) The Union and the Board agree that SBM/SDM is a process in which all members of the school community collaborate in identifying issues, defining goals, formulating policy and implementing...

A. Conversion Charter Schools Pursuant to Article 56 of the New York State Education Law (the “Charter Schools Law”) an existing public school may be converted to a charter school. As modified below, guidance counselors of a Conversion Charter School...

A. Conversion Charter Schools Pursuant to Article 56 of the New York State Education Law (the “Charter Schools Law”) an existing public school may be converted to a charter school. As modified below, secretaries of a Conversion Charter School shall...

A. Conversion Charter Schools Pursuant to Article 56 of the New York State Education Law (the “Charter School Law”) an existing public school may be converted to a charter school. As modified below, employees of a Conversion Charter School shall be...

A. Conversion Charter Schools Pursuant to Article 56 of the New York State Education Law (the “Charter Schools Law”) an existing public school may be converted to a charter school. As modified below, employees of a Conversion Charters School shall be...

A. Conversion Charter Schools Pursuant to Article 56 of the New York State Education Law (the "Charter Schools Law") an existing public school may be converted to a charter school. As modified below, employees of a Conversion Charter School shall be...

Madeline Velez-Vazquez, a bilingual school counselor at PS 58 in the Bronx, says school counselors are needed “now more than ever to help students succeed.” She says, "I’m seeing both extremes: children who are more hypervigilant about the pandemic...

We were able to negotiate time during your regular workday for you to complete the DESSA SEL screener — and your ability to do this work off school grounds at your discretion.

Throughout the school year, teachers apply for “per-session” activities that are done either before or after school, on the weekend or holidays, or during the summer. If you apply for and are accepted for such an activity, you are paid at the per...

As another school year comes to a close, we as school counselors reflect on the crucial role we play in helping our students achieve their personal best in the academic, social/personal and career domains. Our efforts as student advocates and school...

If you are planning to create lesson plans related to the Climate Action Days or want to integrate climate change more regularly in your classroom, there are many high-quality materials online.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew testified before the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding the NYC Department of Education's spending of federal COVID-19 relief funds.

At Hudson HS, a United Community School in Chelsea in Manhattan, Community School Director Anthony Rosario helps the school community address unmet needs through wraparound services.

UFT Vice President Karen Alford submitted testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Education on a bill about payments to early childhood care and education providers.