The last three DOE-UFT contracts contain provisions for paperwork reduction. If members are asked to complete redundant or excessive paperwork, you can raise this with your school's chapter leader, who is empowered to resolve these issues. A chapter leader may bring the issue to the principal's attention in a one-on-one meeting, a consultation committee gathering or via email. Also, the chapter leader should fill out an online operational report the same day they notify their principal. If the matter is not addressed after five school days of submitting the report, it can be escalated to the district level, or then to the central committee, and if still unresolved, these issues can ultimately be brought to arbitration. 

The DOE and the UFT issued updated paperwork standards  and labor guidance on Paperwork and Operational Issues for administratorsto reflect new agreements in the 2023 contract. Read more about paperwork reduction »

Yes, but permits are only issued to vehicles registered in four states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. 

If your class exceeds the maximum number of students permitted, notify your chapter leader immediately.

During the first 10 days of school (and the first 10 days of each term), the chapter leader and the principal will attempt to informally resolve all class-size issues. If the matter is still unresolved on the 19th day of the school term, the UFT district rep and the superintendent will meet to resolve the issue for any class exceeding the maximum limits set forth in the contract.

On the 21st day of the term, the Class Size Labor Management Committee will deal with any remaining oversized classes and will meet until all schools with an oversized class have had the issue addressed. If the committee cannot resolve the issues within the school, the UFT may file a demand for arbitration within two school days of the committee addressing the school. Arbitration will start withing five days of the filing of the demand.

If you receive additional students during the year that put your class size over the contractual limit notify your chapter leader at the time as well.

Department of Education employees may choose to receive their W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095-C forms electronically instead of on paper. Electronic delivery is voluntary, secure and accurate. You can also download the documents to your computer.

To choose electronic delivery, log in to your NYCAPS Employee Self-Service NYCAPS ESS account and complete the online form. You will receive an email by mid-January each year with instructions for accessing electronic W-2, 1127 Waiver and 1095-C forms. The electronic version may be printed or saved to your computer.

If you have previously chosen electronic delivery, you do not have to re-enroll. The enrollment deadline to receive electronic delivery of 2023 forms will be January 2024. Check the DOE HR Connect website for specific deadline dates. 

The validation email might have been flagged as spam by your email system. Check your spam folder. If you have not received it, you can request another validation email after 30 minutes. 

 If you have a Gmail account, here's what you can do to prevent future UFT emails from being marked as spam:

1. Go to your Gmail mailbox
2. Go to the left column where it says Inbox, Starred, Drafts, etc. and find "More" (in dropdown menu) 
3. Under More, they will then find the Spam folder
4. Right click on any email from noreply [at] uft [dot] org (noreply[at]uft[dot]org) and mark as "Not Spam"

If you have a Yahoo email address, click on the Spam folder. Find emails from noreply [at] uft [dot] org (noreply[at]uft[dot]org) and click the "Not Spam" button. For other email providers, check their rules for unblocking or whitelisting email.

Please note: you must use a personal email address, not a work, school or DOE-related email address, on the UFT website.  

A mentor is an experienced classroom teacher, coach or lead teacher that ideally teaches the same grade or subject as the new teacher mentee. Each school has a New Teacher Induction Committee, which ensures new teachers receive this mentoring and school chapter leaders are required members of this team. Ask your chapter leader if you have any questions about how mentors are chosen at your school.

Yes, a general education teacher can provide coverage if adequate efforts have been made to locate an appropriately certified special education teacher and no one is available. However, co-teachers in the same ICT class cannot cover for each other during prep periods.

No. When a general education teacher is a required member of the IEP team for the student, one of the student’s general education teachers must be present for the entirety of the IEP meeting. Similarly, when a special education teacher is a required member of an IEP team, one of the student’s special education teachers must be present for the entirety of the IEP meeting. General education or special education teachers may only be excused through written parental consent at least five days prior to the IEP meeting.

According to the 2023 contract, student assessment activities, which include IEP meetings, are now being prioritized as professional activity assignments for special education teachers.

If your school has a special education intervention teacher on staff, they may participate as the special education teacher in IEP meetings of students they support. They may also provide coverage for other special education teachers to attend meetings for requested evaluations and three-year reevaluations, but not annual reviews.

Since the general education teacher and the special education teacher have different responsibilities, each must have a lesson plan.

The UFT’s new contact center is open and can provide support with all your union rights and benefits. Call the following numbers with any questions or for assistance:

• DOE members, 212-331-6311
• DOE functional chapter members, 212-331-6312
• UFT Welfare Fund, 212-539-0500 – questions about health benefits
• UFT Welfare Fund forms, 212-539-0539 – to obtain forms

You can also use Ask George, our Member Hub guide, to obtain answers to common questions 24/7.