Now that early voting has been instituted across the state, the DOE no longer grants release time to vote on Election Day. To learn more about early voting, visit NYC Votes for upcoming dates and polling sites.

The workday of a substitute para is based on a workday of 6 hours and 50 minutes, inclusive of lunch. The student day ends after 6 hours and 20 minutes. The school to which the para is assigned has the discretion to decide whether the substitute must remain past the end of the student day. If a principal chooses to release the substitute para at the end of the student day, the pay will be prorated based on a 6 hour, 20 minute workday. 

If the school requires the substitute to remain beyond the end of the student day, the substitute should be assigned to duties such as working with a classroom teacher, reflecting on the day, or attending a professional development session.

Yes. 

DOE parking spaces and locations have been capped citywide and no new parking spaces will be installed for any faculty in newer school buildings. In addition, if a school closes or relocates, parking spaces are non-transferable and the spaces neither move with the school nor would a new school moving into a building inherit those spaces. 

Itinerant or non-school based staff can apply for a DOE parking permit using the same portal as school-based staff: https://www.opt-osfns.org/DSF/Resources/DSF_ParkingPermit/Home. 

Either: 

• Your school building does not have designated DOE parking spaces, therefore you will not be issued a parking permit. 
• You are not affiliated with one of the approved unions.
• Your employee reference number is invalid. 

If you believe that you meet the eligibility requirements and still are having issues, please email: DOEparkingpermits [at] schools [dot] nyc [dot] gov (DOEparkingpermits[at]schools[dot]nyc[dot]gov). 

See your school's chapter leader, who can bring this issue up with your principal. The DOE must provide teachers with a semester or year-long curriculum in all core subjects which are aligned with state standards. Curriculum means: (a) a list of content and topics; (b) a scope and sequence; and, (c) a list of what students are expected to know and be able to do after studying each topic. 

Core subjects are: Math, Social Studies, English Language Arts, Science, Foreign Languages, and other subject areas named by the DOE and shared with the UFT. Core course curriculum should be supplied even in cases where the courses may be electives. 

However, the sufficiency and the quality of the curriculum provided is not grievable. 

Teachers may still voluntarily write their own curriculum, and if the DOE or a school administrator specifically requests a teacher to write a curriculum, there must be sufficient time given during the work day or paid time after school via per-session in order to do so. 

Yes, it must. Under the DOE-UFT contract, it is your school’s obligation to provide you with “appropriate and sufficient basic instructional supplies and books,” including textbooks, paper, assessment materials, chalk, microscopes and math manipulatives. See additional information about teacher supplies »

If that obligation is not met, let your chapter leader know. Teacher’s Choice may be used for materials beyond these basic supplies.

Per Chancellor's Regulation A-850, all DOE facilities and schools report on sustainability practices to emphasize the importance of sustainability, to create a culture that accepts fiscal responsibility for sustainability goals, to enhance building performance, to foster a sense of citizenship, and to complete and implement a site-specific waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and energy conservation plan.

Each principal designates a person from the school’s administrative or teaching staff to be the Sustainability Coordinator for that individual school. If a school is located on a “campus” (i.e. a building containing more than one school or program), the principals for the various schools may appoint one person to serve as the Sustainability Coordinator for all the schools in the building.

Responsibilities of the Sustainability Coordinator
The Sustainability Coordinator is responsible for:

• Completing and implementing the school’s sustainability plan, or in the case of non-school buildings, the building’s sustainability plan. Sustainability Coordinators shall review and report to the Principal/Building Captain on recycling practices at the school or building, serving as the conduit for sustainable curriculum development initiatives in school buildings.
• Utilizing the U.S. EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager provided by the DOE in assisting with energy conservation programs.
• If a school is located on a campus, Sustainability Coordinators from each school shall hold periodic campus-wide sustainability meetings to coordinate their conservation efforts (e.g., turn off the lights and equipment that are not in use).
• Sustainability Coordinators shall complete and submit to the DOE’s Director of Sustainability the Annual Sustainability Survey.
• The Sustainability Coordinator shall consult with representatives from all sectors of the school or DOE building, including principal(s), food services, administrative and facilities staff, and wherever possible, parents and students, in developing and implementing all of the sustainability initiatives at the school.

Time Allocation Opportunities for Sustainability Coordinators
Speak with your principal and UFT chapter leader if you are interested in pursuing any of these time allocations:

• School-Based Option (SBOs)
• Professional development hours
• Professional period (Circular 6)
• Per session for after/before school compensation

Tips for Sustainability Coordinators – Build A Team!
Here are recommended steps to take as you fulfill this role:

1. Introduce yourself as the Sustainability Coordinator to your school’s Custodian Engineer, cafeteria staff, PA/PTA, and other school staff.
2. Recruit at least one colleague to be your co-coordinator
3. Start a Green Team/environmental club. This can include both students and staff.

Resources for Sustainability Coordinators
The DOE Office of Energy and Sustainability has great resources for Sustainability Coordinators on their Sustainability Hub including:

• In-person and virtual professional learning on a variety of climate-related topics
• Ongoing support from Sustainability Specialists on the Office of Energy and Sustainability team.

No, all negative materials in your file that are more than three years old should be removed if they have not been used in connection with disciplinary charges. You can request to see your file to verify that this has occurred promptly. Talk to your chapter leader about how this is done in your school.

See more about a letter in your file »