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. See the Teacher's Choice Q&A for answers to frequently asked questions.
How the program works
- To receive reimbursement through Teacher's Choice, educators must save and submit receipts as proof of purchase, accompanied by a DOE accountability form.
- The purchasing period begins each school year on Aug. 1 and continues through mid-January.
- Members receive their Teacher's Choice funds in a paycheck in late November or early December.
- Those who do not wish to participate in Teacher's Choice must submit a Request for Non-participation (opt-out) form.
- If you receive Teacher's Choice funds in your paycheck and do not submit an accountability form with required receipts by the January deadline, the DOE will take back the money.
- 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.
- Other unreimbursed spending on school supplies may be tax-deductible.
Still have questions?
See our FAQs on the Teacher's Choice program below. For assistance and additional information from the DOE, see the DOE's Teacher's Choice website (note: you'll have to log in), contact the DOE Teacher's Choice Unit at 718-935-3304 or email teacherschoice [at] schools [dot] nyc [dot] gov (teacherschoice[at]schools[dot]nyc[dot]gov). Call the UFT with any concerns at 212-331-6311.
Yes, you can. If two or more program participants wish to pool all or any portion of their Teacher's Choice funds to purchase an item for a shared class or assignment, each must complete their own Teacher’s Choice accountability form. All participants should indicate one another’s names on their respective form and include the dollar amount contributed by each person toward the joint purchase. One participant will attach the original receipt(s) or invoice(s) to their completed form and the other(s) will attach photocopies of those receipts or invoices.
Items purchased with Teacher’s Choice funds are the property of the DOE. These purchases must remain at your school for use in your classroom or office assignment; they cannot be taken to a different location if you transfer to a different school. However, software and supplies for personal or DOE-assigned computers may be used at home. Staff members who provide services at more than one location may bring purchased items to any site where they deliver services to students.
If you do not wish to participate in Teacher’s Choice, you should submit a Request for Non-participation (opt-out) form to your school by the deadline indicated for that particular school year.
If you receive Teacher’s Choice funds in your paycheck and do not submit an accountability form with receipts by the January deadline, the DOE will take back the money from a future paycheck.
Members receive their Teacher’s Choice allotment as part of their regular paycheck, not as a supplemental check, usually in mid-to-late November each year. Since Teacher’s Choice is treated as a post-net payroll adjustment, the funds are nontaxable.
Teacher’s Choice will not reimburse purchases of furniture, fees for trips or performances, gifts for students, computer accessories for home use, power tools, appliances or equipment that requires special wiring or installation, among others.
Classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, school counselors, social workers and psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, school nurses, school secretaries, lab specialists, reading coaches and single shepherds all receive funds through Teacher’s Choice at varying amounts per job title. Recipients must be in active service as of Nov. 1 to receive funding that same school year.
The New York City Council created Teacher’s Choice decades ago after intense lobbying by the UFT. Teacher’s Choice is not guaranteed from year to year; the UFT has to lobby for funding for the program in every year’s city budget. Teacher’s Choice is not part of the DOE-UFT contract.
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.
Items purchased under Teacher’s Choice must be appropriate for educational use in the classroom or for other professional assignments, such as art materials, special paper, learning aids, musical instruments and more. If supplies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, such as masks and hand sanitizer, have not been provided by your school, they can be purchased with Teacher’s Choice funds.
See the UFT's Teachers Choice page for more information about the program.
Members will receive reimbursement for classroom expenditures made within the annual spending period at the amount allocated for their job title. Then, they must submit an accountability form with receipts to the school to show the entire amount has been spent.
You do not need to sign up for Teacher’s Choice; inclusion in the program is automatic for those who are eligible. Those who do not wish to participate in the program must submit a Request for Non-Participation (Opt Out Form).
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. Items purchased under Teacher's Choice must be appropriate for educational use in the classroom or for other professional assignments.
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.
Teacher’s Choice, initiated by the UFT over 30 years ago, allows school staff members to exercise their professional judgment to purchase supplementary supplies and materials to improve the educational experience for their students. Teacher’s Choice funds are provided in the city budget by the New York City Council to reimburse eligible UFT members up to an allotted amount for the cost of these items.
See the UFT's Teachers Choice page for more information about the program.