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UFT Teacher Centers are friends indeed
UFT Vice President Mary Vaccaro writes that Teacher Center specialists with extensive teaching and coaching expertise in New York City public schools offer support, professional development, collegial advice and access to resources and materials that...
Demanding ‘safe passage’
Hundreds of staff and students from Curtis and Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education high schools on Staten Island, along with parents and community members, participated in a walk against violence on Nov. 26 in response to two gun-related...
Paraprofessional pensions
Paraprofessionals have the security of knowing they will receive a pension check every month for the rest of their lives after they retire as members of the Teachers' Retirement System. Learn all you need to know about this key benefit.
The DOE fails students with special needs
The DOE’s failure to adequately staff our schools is unacceptable. We have long known that our related service providers were stretched thin, but the numbers from the survey show how untenable the DOE has let the situation become.
3% rai$e on Jan. 18
The salaries of UFT-represented employees covered by the Department of Education-UFT contracts will increase by 3% on Jan. 18, 2025.
UFT launches new tool to navigate parental leave
This fall, the UFT rolled out a new interactive digital tool to simplify the task of determining how much parental leave an expecting parent can take.
Paraprofessionals’ rights and responsibilities
Paraprofessionals play an instrumental role in schools as part of a team providing educational and support services to children. Here are some of the rights and responsibilities that paraprofessionals should know about.
Workers’ compensation
Workers’ compensation is insurance paid for by the employer. It covers medical costs associated with an on-the-job injury or illness, and it pays a portion of lost salary if you miss work. Full- or part-time paraprofessionals, occupational and...
Errors in math
As the DOE's mandated Algebra I math curriculum has expanded from a few hundred high schools last year to citywide this school year, so have teachers’ concerns that it is a mismatch for city schools and is hampering their students’ academic progress.
NYC Reads reset
This school year, as outside consultants took over most of the training, teachers grew increasingly frustrated with their lack of voice and the lack of support. So we headed to the bargaining table to demand changes. The revised curriculum policy...
Mulgrew shares post-election outlook
UFT President Michael Mulgrew predicted that the Trump administration will attack unions and public education.
Pull principals from paraprofessional hiring
Take principals out of play. A school counselor counsels the DOE about how best to address the paraprofessional shortage.
Back in the day
I remember when we didn’t get any preps AND had lunch duty AND had to physically turn in a lesson plan book every Monday for principals to comment on and mark up in red AND many other since-rectified issues.
Praise for Hospital for Special Surgery
Regarding a Nov. 1 article about UFT Welfare Fund members having special access to the Hospital for Special Surgery, thanks to a new partnership between the UFT Welfare Fund and the hospital
Thank you, Mrs. Krinick
I am a retired senior citizen who searched for his 4th-grade teacher to say thank you for many years. I found your article (“At 100, still embracing the challenge,” Dec 21, 2023, issue), and there she was, Mrs. Miriam Krinick, at 100 years old — and...
Pension Expo
The UFT's first-ever Pension Expo on Oct. 26 gave 400 UFT members the information and tools they needed to plan for retirement. “We provided members a place where in one day they could take care of all these things they were concerned about and never...
Schools apply for class size funding
As the Dec. 20 deadline approached, several hundred New York City public schools were working on their applications for funding to reduce class size next school year. In late October, principals were invited to create a plan and apply for funds...
Boost to short-term disability benefit
In-service members enrolled in the UFT Welfare Fund gained two benefit improvements in November: an increase in the weekly short-term disability benefit and more coverage of a special formula for newborns and others with nutrition-intake deficiencies...
‘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.
Special education gets the shaft
UFT President Michael Mulgrew is calling on the city to fill vacant school-related professional positions in order to fulfill the special education requirements of at least 9,000 students across the city.
Educational support team key to District 75 hydroponics lab
The hydroponics lab at P141K at IS 71, a District 75 site that serves students with profound learning challenges, allows students to participate in gardening activities year-round. The students have the opportunity to witness the plant life cycle...
Kudos to Michelle Lowe-Calixte, IS 392, Brooklyn
Michelle Lowe-Calixte has been an exemplary chapter leader the last three years — all while also serving as the District 23 paraprofessional coordinator.
Pool of in-network dentists triples
UFT Welfare Fund-eligible members now have access to more than three times as many dentists through the UFT Welfare Fund’s Scheduled Benefit Plan, which is its most popular dental plan.
Music to audiologists’ ears
Thanks to a three-year effort by audiologists and their union, public school students now have access to hearing loss assessment in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and at two locations in Brooklyn.
AllyHealth Telemedicine Program
UFT members at ADAPT Community Network, per diem employees and substitute paraprofessionals and their families now have access to unlimited virtual care through AllyHealth's network of board-certified doctors--absolutely free. Enroll today to take...
Does the New York State paid prenatal leave program apply to UFT-represented DOE employees?
No, the program only applies to privately-employed New Yorkers and not public employees.
Resolution: No changes to UFT members' healthcare without Delegate Assembly approval
Any significant changes to members’ healthcare will be submitted to the Delegate Assembly for approval, and the UFT will never agree to forcing any retired member into a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Resolution on IEP writing during contractual work hours
The United Federation of Teachers calls on all members to adhere to the principle that IEP writing should occur exclusively during contractual work hours.
Joy to the world — and to yourself
The holidays are an opportunity to reconnect and celebrate with family and friends, but they can also cause social, emotional and financial stress. So it’s important to take time for yourself and approach the holidays in a way that will preserve your...
UFT toy drive and holiday party 2024
The UFT, in partnership with Coalition for the Homeless, hosted its annual holiday toy drive and celebration on Dec. 7 for students living in temporary housing in New York City. UFT members donated over 1,000 toys and more than $2,200 to the effort to bring holiday joy to the students, who enjoyed a variety of crafts and games as well as face-painting, a magic show and a visit from Santa.
RESPECT for Paraprofessionals
The RESPECT check is now law! All of our hard work has gotten us to this moment. Paraprofessionals can expect to receive their first RESPECT payment in January.
Jewish Heritage Committee Awards Dinner 2024
Tikkun olam — Hebrew for “repairing the world” — was the theme for the UFT Jewish Heritage Committee Awards dinner for a second straight year. The event, which was held at Russo’s on the Bay in Queens on Dec. 5, was “joyous and festive, with the spirit of unionism and repair of the world infused throughout,” said Jason Goldberg, the committee chair.
DOE releases policy updates to NYC Reads
As a result of intense negotiations with the DOE over educators’ concerns with the NYC Reads curriculum, the city Department of Education has released key policy updates to all elementary school educators and principals.
New Retiree Luncheon 2024
About 350 UFT members who retired from service in 2024 assembled at the New York Hilton Midtown on Dec. 5 to toast to their life after New York City public schools. The recent retirees were treated to a sumptuous lunch as well as a vendor fair where they learned about health care options such as the UFT Welfare Fund’s Supplemental Health Insurance Program and retiree programs such as the Si Beagle Learning Centers.
UFT statement on the Rockefeller Institute's Foundation Aid report
UFT President Michael Mulgrew issued a statement on the release of the Rockefeller Institute's New York State Foundation Aid report.
Our goals
Read what we are seeking from the city to support our youngest learners so all kids #StartStrong.