Centrally Funded Intervention Teacher
*This position was formerly known as a Special Education Intervention Teacher and previously, an IEP teacher.
The Centrally Funded Intervention Teacher (CFIT) is a centrally funded learning specialist. The position was originally created in 2003 as part of a settlement of grievances concerning the elimination of the education evaluator position. Prior to the start of the 2016-17 school year, the DOE and the UFT collaborated to update the position. The goal was to emphasize the intervention teacher's role in supporting schools with high referrals for special education services and high numbers of students with individualized education programs (IEPs) by providing interventions for struggling readers. As stated by then-Deputy Chancellor Corinne Rello-Anselmi, “In a system where one in five students has an IEP and only nine percent of students with disabilities in grades 3 through 8 are proficient in reading, it is imperative that we work together to ensure that all students are receiving the instruction and intervention that they need in order to become proficient readers and achieve.”
Duties and responsibilities
As described in the June 2026 posting, the Centrally Funded Intervention Teacher (CFIT) fulfills the role of the special education teacher at initial IEP team meetings for newly identified students with disabilities. The CFIT also provides coverage for the special education teachers of students already receiving special education services while they participate in three-year reviews and requested reviews for their students. A minimum of five periods per week are devoted to these activities. Please note: CFITs no longer provide coverage for special education teachers attending annual reviews.
Centrally Funded Intervention Teachers also:
- Attend centrally approved professional development on evidence based reading instruction and interventions;
- Provide specially designed instruction to students with disabilities for one (1) up to a maximum of five (5) periods a week;
- Provide individual and/or small group reading instruction, interventions and progress monitoring for special education students and at-risk general education students for the balance of their programs
In the event the number of periods required in a given week to prepare for and participate in initial IEP team meetings and provide coverage for teachers to attend IEP team meetings is fewer than the number located, such time will be used to: administer curriculum based assessments for at risk general education students; prepare and deliver professional development workshops and provide coaching support to teachers and paraprofessionals to building capacity for delivery of evidence-based instruction and interventions.
The CFIT Implementation Guidance: 2026-2027 clearly states that the CFIT cannot serve in any other role in the school that may detract from their responsibilities as the intervention teacher, and thus should not be assigned other out-of-classroom duties. Specifically, the intervention teacher must not be assigned to serve as the special education and/or IEP coordinator, special education liaison, teacher mentor or other non-instructional roles. The intervention teacher should not serve as the district representative at IEP team meetings for students other than students initially referred and students for whom the intervention teacher is providing IEP mandated services. When not participating in IEP team meetings for newly referred students or providing coverage for special education teachers so they can attend IEP team meetings for their students, the intervention teacher should be working directly with students.
Schools with Centrally Funded Intervention Teachers
The Centrally Funded Intervention Teacher allocation funds 960 special education teachers. Schools are selected based on the criteria set out in the School Allocation Memorandum (SAM). The allocation is subject to change every three years. Additional information about the Special Education Intervention Teacher allocation can be found in the School Allocation Memorandum (SAM). The allocation is over and above other special education teacher allocations and without regard to special education teacher vacancies.
The Centrally Funded Intervention Teacher (CFIT) is a posted three-year instructional position. The posting is the only posting that may be used for the CFIT position. A new three-year cycle begins in the 2026-27 school year and will culminate at the end of the 2028-29 school year. The teacher selected for this position in the 2026-27 school year will continue in the position for the remainder of the three-year cycle, as long as the school and the teacher continue to be eligible. Teachers who enter the position in the middle of the three-year cycle will remain in the position until the cycle ends (at the culmination of the 2028-29 school year.
Additional information
New CFIT Implementation Guidance, which is linked in the School Allocation Memorandum (SAM), addresses important issues related to the position. Included in this document is information regarding the purpose of the Special Education Intervention Teacher position, roles and responsibilities of the Special Education Intervention Teacher, identification of Special Education Intervention Teachers in the school budget, involvement in IEP meetings, postings/seniority, training and professional development and additional assistance and resources.