Search
UFT President Michael Mulgrew on City Hall cuts to education funding
UFT President Michael Mulgrew issued a statement regarding the deep budget cuts announced for New York City public schools.
What is DASA training?
The Dignity for All Students Act mandates that anyone applying for a New York State teaching license or certificate after December 31, 2013 complete six hours of training on harassment, bullying and discrimination in schools.
Resolution to promote humanitarianism in the Middle East
The United Federation of Teachers calls upon those working to de-escalate the conflict also work to promote humanitarianism. The UFT remains committed to the founding principles of building across differences for a better world.
Can co-teachers in an Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) class cover for each other during preparation periods?
No. Two teachers--one general education and one special education--must be present for all periods of ICT instruction required by students' IEPs. Co-teachers may not cover for each other during preparation periods.
School Psychologists Appreciation Day 2023
School psychologists gathered in person at Shanker Hall and remotely for their chapter’s annual Psychologists Appreciation Day professional development on Friday, Nov. 10. Between networking, collaborating and socializing, the psychologists learned about strategies to support students with executive dysfunction.
UFT Statement on DOE–SCA Proposed Capital Plan
The UFT issued a statement in response to the proposed five-year capital plan recently issued by the New York City School Construction Authority.
Effective communication
Communication is essential for building positive relationships at work. It fosters teamwork and collaboration, and it helps everyone to thrive. But what are the building blocks of good communication?
Better tool to assure special ed compliance
The new contract establishes school-based Special Education Committees and annual training of all staff on special education rules and regulations. Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese writes that these new rights will empower members...
William Valentin, paraprofessional for hearing impaired students
As a one-on-one paraprofessional in a third and fourth grade DHHES classroom at PS 333 in the Bronx, William Valentin supports Deaf and hearing impaired students with their communication, educational and behavioral needs.
Paras get Teacher’s Choice money
After years of advocacy by the UFT, paraprofessionals will be included in the Teacher’s Choice program for the first time this school year.
No longer alone
A pre-K teacher and the UFT chapter leader at PS 150 in Queens, Jeanine Bradley has found her voice as an advocate, both in the community and at her school, for people with Crohn’s and for her fellow educators. And she makes sure her students, no...
Make connections with hexagonal thinking
How do you teach elaboration, “adding on” and targeted vocabulary without making student discussion feel forced? Enter hexagonal thinking.
The over-80 crowd
Of the 80,000-plus retirees and spouses who receive a pension check each month, more than 17,000 are 80 or older.
Tax-deferred annuity can boost retirement income
If you are a member of TRS or BERS, you have a voluntary, supplemental savings plan in addition to your define benefit pension. This savings plan with low fees allows you to build personal savings on a tax-deferred basis.
Protecting kids on social media
State Attorney General Letitia James and Gov. Kathy Hochul — along with UFT President Michael Mulgrew — unveiled new legislation to safeguard children online on Oct. 11 at UFT headquarters.
Florida Center’s Day at the University
The Retired Teachers Chapter and the UFT Welfare Fund are proud to present an in-person series of educational, thought-provoking and entertaining lectures as part of the UFT Florida Center’s Day at the University. Please join us for one or all of...
Easing tension and defusing pain as a chaplain
Susan Kramer has always been the type of person that people gravitate toward when they are struggling with a life dilemma or need advice and support. After retiring at the end of the 2020-21 school year, she saw an ad for a course with the United...
Targeted support for retired paraprofessionals
A monthslong UFT initiative to reach out to retired paraprofessionals, connect them with union services and support, and encourage them to get involved in the Retired Teachers Chapter culminated with a meet and greet at UFT headquarters on Sept. 19.
Staying vigilant vs. Big Pharma
It’s unclear whether the pharmaceutical corporations like being called Big Pharma. Nicknames for monopolies, such as Ma Bell for AT&T, were comforting in an earth mother sort of a way. But in senior circles, Big Pharma is uttered with contempt.
‘Lots of smiling faces’
At the PS 14 family resource fair in Queens, more than 400 PS 14 family members and students checked out information booths from 15 partner organizations, participated in activities like board games and dancing and took advantage of book giveaways...
Integrated co-teaching classes
Students in Integrated Co-Teaching classes are intentionally grouped together based on similarity of need to receive specially designed instruction. Specific protocols have been established to ensure this model is successful for all participants...
Support for asylum-seeking families
We are facing a crisis in our school system that we are handling largely on our own: Over the past 18 months, more than 20,000 children from asylum-seeking families have arrived in our schools. Yet no one in leadership seems to be talking about or...
UFT nurses in staffing fight
The Federation of Nurses/UFT is in a pitched battle with NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn over short staffing that the union contends is putting patients at risk.
UFT focuses on four contested City Council races
The UFT has made endorsements in all but one City Council race and in the district attorney races in the Nov. 7 election, but the union’s borough political action committees have been focusing on four contested Council races: one in the Bronx, one in...
UFT’s Bronx borough office relocates
The UFT’s Bronx borough office relocated over the summer from Halsey Street to 2100 Bartow Ave. in Co-op City, near the Bay Plaza Shopping Center.
Nation facing school nurse shortage
More than one-third of schools across the country do not have a full-time on-site nurse as students face higher rates of chronic illness, an unprecedented youth mental health crisis and the waning COVID-19 epidemic amid a national nursing shortage.
A new labor strategy: the short strike
It’s becoming more common for U.S .unions, especially in the health care sector, to call a short, fixed-duration strike and then return to the bargaining table.
Los Angeles limits charter co-locations
The Los Angeles Board of Education has approved a resolution to limit where charter schools can rent on-campus classroom space from the district.
As a result, about one-third of the district — 350 campuses — could become exempt from future space...
Lessons about climate change
If you are planning to create lesson plans related to the DOE's Climate Action Days or want to integrate the topic of climate change more regularly in your classroom, there are many high-quality materials online.
Shedding light on a crisis
According to a 2021 survey of city educators, just slightly more than half of us teach students about climate change, and those who do only address it for about two hours per year. A group of dedicated educators is trying to shift that paradigm...
Salary, steps and longevity
In addition to the regular pay increases negotiated in each DOE-UFT contract, UFT-represented teachers and other pedagogues receive differentials, step payments and longevity increases based on their level of education and years of service.
Gov. Hochul signs law to spur teacher recruitment
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed state legislation at UFT headquarters on Sept. 6 to spur teacher recruitment, with a focus on increasing diversity, across the state. The state needs about 180,000 teachers in the next decade to meet workforce needs, she said...
Teacher’s ‘superpower’ kicks in
Jouleni Cruz had parent-teacher conferences on her mind as she exited East-West School of International Studies in Flushing, Queens, and headed for her car on Sept. 28. Suddenly, she heard the sickening sound of a vehicle making an impact with...
Grants, Awards & Freebies — November 2, 2023
See our list of current opportunities for educators to receive funds and recognition for their hard work and dedication.