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Teacher's Choice

The landmark City Council program, initiated by the UFT more than 25 years ago, reimburses educators — as determined by title — for the purchase of classroom and school supplies of their choice.

Teachers Choice for the 2022–23 school year

The purchasing period for eligible supplies ran from Aug. 1, 2022, through Jan. 13, 2023. Members eligible for Teacher’s Choice should have received their allocation in their paycheck on Nov. 30. A second distribution for those missed on Nov. 30 occurred on Dec. 30. Speak to your administrator if you are eligible for Teachers Choice and did not receive this payment. 

The receipts for your purchases should have been submitted with a Statement of Purpose/Accountability form, by Friday, Jan. 20. Members who received a Teacher’s Choice payment but did not file an accountability form with required receipts by the deadline will be required to return the money to the DOE.

Allocation by title for this school year: 
Title Amount
Teachers $250
School counselors $110
Social workers and psychologists $110
Universal literacy coaches $110
Single Shepherds $110
Occupational and physical therapists $95
School nurses $95
Lab specialists $85
School secretaries $60


Substitute teachers, school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors and school secretaries will receive the same amount as a regularly appointed employee in the same job title.

How the program works

To make use of your Teacher's Choice funds, educators must save their receipts for purchases made between August and January. These receipts must accompany a Statement of Purpose/Accountability form. 

Members receive their Teacher's Choice funds in their last November or first December paychecks. Those who do not wish to participate must submit a Request for Non-Participation (Opt Out Form). If you receive the Teacher's Choice funds in your paycheck and do not file an accountability form with required receipts by the deadline, you will be obligated to refund the money to the DOE.

Items purchased under Teacher's Choice must be appropriate for educational use in the classroom or for other professional assignments. The Teacher's Choice stipend is not intended for purchases of basic supplies such as textbooks, chalk, paper, microscopes and math manipulatives, which principals are contractually obligated to provide. If that obligation is not met, let your chapter leader know. 

Educators are encouraged to take advantage of the many deals on school supplies being offered throughout the city and online. The UFT supports the boycott of Staples, which is taking jobs away from unionized U.S. postal workers as the U.S. Postal Service outsources its work.

Educators are also reminded that other unreimbursed spending on school supplies may be tax-deductible.

Still have questions?

For additional information or assistance from the DOE, see the DOE's Teacher's Choice website (note: you'll have to log in) or please contact the DOE Teacher's Choice Unit at 718-935-3304 or email teacherschoice@schools.nyc.gov. At the UFT, call 212-331-6311.

I'm having a difficult time obtaining classroom supplies and materials at my school. Do I have to buy these items myself?

No. Your school must provide you with basic instructional supplies and books, such as textbooks, paper, chalk, microscopes and math manipulatives. In fact, it's a contractual right. Instructional supplies are part of the system-wide standards and schools are responsible for providing them to teachers and functional chapter employees. 

If you want something beyond these basic supplies, you do have the option to purchase items for your classroom with money from the Teacher's Choice program for which teachers can be reimbursed up to $250 per year (other titles receive less).

What can I use my Teacher's Choice money to buy?

Items purchased under Teacher's Choice must be appropriate for educational use in the classroom or for other professional assignments. In recent years, the DOE has also included PPE supplies such as masks and hand sanitizer as qualifying purchases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Teacher's Choice stipend is not intended for purchases of basic supplies such as textbooks, chalk, paper, microscopes and math manipulatives, which principals are contractually obligated to provide. If that obligation is not met, let your chapter leader know. Teacher's Choice purchases are intended for special projects or enrichment materials for your classes. Sometimes a group of UFT members pool their money to buy equipment or other more expensive purchases for a grade or department--but this is purely voluntary; the choice is yours. 

See the UFT's Teachers Choice page for more information about the program. 

How does the Teacher's Choice program work?

Members receive their Teacher's Choice funds in their last November or first December paychecks, but you should start purchasing and saving receipts sooner than this date, usually between August and January. Receipts for these purchases must accompany a Statement of Purpose/Accountability form. Items purchased under Teacher's Choice must be appropriate for educational use in the classroom or for other professional assignments.

Those who do not wish to participate in the program must submit a Request for Non-Participation (Opt Out Form). If you receive the Teacher's Choice funds in your paycheck and do not file an accountability form with required receipts by the deadline, you will be obligated to refund the money to the DOE.

See the UFT's Teachers Choice page for more information about the program. 

What is Teacher's Choice?

Teacher’s Choice gives UFT members buying power. It is money provided in the budget by the New York City Council that reimburses eligible UFT members up to an allotted amount for the cost of supplementary supplies and materials that they buy to help them do their jobs.

Teachers, school counselors, social workers, school psychologists, lab specialists, occupational and physical therapists, school nurses and school secretaries should check with their chapter leaders to find out how much money is allocated for their title.

See the UFT's Teachers Choice page for more information about the program.