New Educator To-Do List
Here are some items to take care of right away and others that will help you prioritize and stay on track.
Your union rights & benefits
This spring, you should receive a preference sheet to indicate, in order of preference, the subject, grade level, and/or type of class you would like to teach next school year. It is especially important for probationary teachers to ask for assignments in their license area, as they could have their tenure delayed if they teach out of license. You should be given a reasonable amount of time — at least five school days — to submit the sheet, which can be issued either electronically or on paper. Before submitting your preference sheet to the principal, make a copy for your records.
The weight of student debt can be a heavy burden, and exploring your options can be complicated. Luckily, you don’t have to face it alone. The Student Debt Relief Program, an exclusive UFT member benefit, is here to help. The union hosts webinars every month to help members tackle their student debt. Sign up for a webinar on the UFT website.
It’s important that the union have your up-to-date mailing address, email address and phone number so you receive information about your union rights and benefits. You can update your address on the “My Account” tab on the UFT website or in the UFT Member Hub. If you need assistance, call the UFT at 212-331-6311.
If you or your partner is about to welcome a child, you can attend one of the union's free virtual Pathways to Parenthood workshops to learn about paid parental leave benefits. Visit the UFT website to register for an upcoming workshop.
Salary & finances
You can access your W-2, 1127 waiver and 1095-C tax forms online on the NYCAPS employee self-service web page. If you asked for electronic delivery of your tax forms, you should have received them via email. Otherwise, the forms will be mailed to your address on file at the DOE. All in-service members can download and print their forms from the employee self-service page. Your W-2 includes any per-session and/or parental leave pay you received in 2025. See more information and directions »
As you prepare to file your taxes, remember that eligible educators can deduct from their federal income taxes up to $300 ($600 if married filing jointly and both spouses are eligible educators, but not more than $300 each) of unreimbursed expenses from 2025 for books, supplies, computer equipment (including related software and services), other equipment and supplementary materials they use in the classroom. The educator expense deduction is an “adjustment to gross income,” so you can use it whether you use the standard deduction or itemize on your tax return. You should keep documentation, such as receipts or canceled checks, for any deductions you take. UFT members can deduct union dues from their state taxes if they itemize deductions on their state tax return. If you are not sure whether you are entitled to a deduction, or you have any other questions regarding your taxes, consult a tax adviser.
The Teachers' Retirement System now has a Roth option in addition to its Tax‑Deferred Annuity Program. In‑service TRS members can log in to the TRS website to open a Roth account. Unlike a TDA account, which allows you to defer taxes by reducing your taxable income now but requires you to pay taxes when you withdraw funds, a Roth option offers no upfront tax break. Instead, withdrawals in retirement are generally tax-free. If a TRS member already has a TDA account, the new Roth option does not affect their current TDA participation. But members now have the choice of investing their savings in the Roth option, the traditional TDA option or some combination of the two.
Staying connected with the union
Sign up for a UFT website account to receive alerts about union campaigns and the latest information about your rights and benefits. Sign up for UFT text messages to be the first to be notified about remote school days in nasty weather and receive other important alerts.