Apply for class size funding by Dec. 20 if your school has space

Schools have until next Friday, Dec. 20, to submit an application for funding to lower class sizes by using available space in their buildings. Reassure your principal that this state money will be a separate funding stream from Fair Student Funding and will be recurring year to year unless there is a citywide financial calamity. Don't leave money on the table! Work with your school leadership team and your principal to finalize your school's plan by the deadline. Here's our toolkit, which includes a link to the joint class size training webinar for chapter leaders and principals. If you have any questions or concerns, speak to your UFT district representative.

Demanding RESPECT for paraprofessionals

Our recent special education survey, which 81% of chapter leaders filled out, painted a clear picture: Of the nearly 2,300 special education vacancies reported across 474 schools, 69% were for paraprofessional positions. It is time to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Paraprofessionals play a crucial part in delivering special education services, and they are needed now more than ever in our schools. If the DOE wants to attract and retain more paraprofessionals, they need to show them the RESPECT they deserve. Each letter of the word RESPECT stands for a goal of our new campaign: Rights, Empowerment, Support, Protection, Engagement, Compensation and Training.

Learn more

Actions you need to take: Please make sure all of the paraprofessionals in your school know about the RESPECT campaign and have the link to sign up.

The DOE has stepped up its hiring of paraprofessionals in response to our pressure. If there are any new full-time paraprofessionals or substitute paraprofessionals in your school who are not yet union members, please ask them to join the union (sign a card or fill out the online form. Increasing the number of paraprofessionals in our union builds our power and strength for the fight ahead to get them the RESPECT and compensation they deserve.

UFT wins pension-system choice fight for BERS members

We've won our years-long fight for pension-system choice for occupational and physical therapists and other UFT members who were automatically enrolled in the Board of Education Retirement System. On Dec. 11, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law a bill that will allow current and future DOE-employed UFT members who are enrolled in BERS at the start of their careers to transfer into the Teachers' Retirement System if they choose. At long last, these UFT members can join the pension system they have the most confidence in and that they feel provides the best benefits and service. Our Occupational and Physical Therapists Chapter mobilized its members to lobby in Albany for the bill, which passed both houses of the state legislature in June. We are working on a Q&A that will answer members' questions about eligibility, the differences between the two retirement systems and the process for transferring to TRS.

Make sure your principal follows new NYC Reads policy

This school year, as outside consultants took over most of the training for the new mandated reading curriculum, elementary school teachers grew increasingly frustrated with their lack of voice and the lack of support. Chapter leaders complained about redundant spreadsheets and other issues in consultation meetings with their principals. The UFT headed to the bargaining table to demand changes. After intense negotiations, the DOE revised its curriculum policy in early December to grant teachers more autonomy and enable them to focus on instruction. Teachers now can adjust the pacing calendar, with up to two weeks of flexibility. Teachers also can modify instruction to ensure all students can access the curriculum. The DOE agreed that there is no need for teachers to download existing digital data and put it into spreadsheets; instead, schools must use the digital tools built into the reading curriculum. But our work as a union is not complete until the new policy is put into action in every elementary school.

Actions you need to take: Are you seeing changes in your elementary school? Use the consultation process to drive change and discuss remaining issues with the administration. 

Register for a one-hour online discussion — on Dec. 17 or 18 — of the new reading curriculum policy at which members can share how it is going in their schools and talk about using the policy to ensure teacher autonomy and paperwork and assessment reduction.

Members can call the UFT during the winter break

During the winter break, you and your members can call the UFT to ask questions about your union rights and benefits, including your UFT Welfare Fund benefits. Members can call 212-331-6311 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays through Friday, Dec. 20, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26; Friday, Dec. 27; and Monday, Dec. 30. The union's offices will be closed on Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Dec. 25, and on Tuesday, Dec. 31, and Wednesday, Jan. 1. The UFT will return to its regular 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule beginning Thursday, Jan. 2.