The item below was sent by the DOE to principals in Principal's Weekly on Sept. 16, 2014:
In light of the arbitration decision regarding the use of SESIS, please remind DOE related-services providers and other DOE staff that while they must continue to enter their information in SESIS they may not do so outside of their regular work hours, or during their lunch break, without prior approval from their supervisor.
In order to ensure that all UFT-represented staff have sufficient time during the work day to perform SESIS-related work (i.e. entering information on a student’s IEP, Encounter Attendance, etc.), you should provide such employees with the time or guidance set forth below:
UFT Title | Time for SESIS |
| UFT Speech Teachers | Speech teachers shall be given the time allocated for Professional Development, Parent Engagement and Other Professional Work (i.e. 155 minutes per week) or equivalent amount of time if the school has an alternative configuration. This is in addition to daily preparation periods. Speech teachers in multi-session schools shall be assigned to the Student Assessment Activities menu option as their daily professional activity (Circular 6) assignment, or provided with an equivalent amount of time during the workday, for SESIS-related work. |
| Occupational and Physical Therapists | Therapists shall be advised to prioritize SESIS among the tasks normally done during administrative time. |
| SETSS and ESL teachers | School-based supervisors shall identify SETSS and ESL teachers who provide IEP-mandated services and such teachers shall use the time allocated for Other Professional Work (i.e. 35 minutes) per week or equivalent amount of time if the school has an alternative configuration. Depending on the teacher’s assignment (i.e. assigned students per day), this time may be increased accordingly. SETSS and ESL teachers in multi-session schools shall be assigned to the Student Assessment Activities menu option as their daily professional activity (Circular 6) assignment, or provided with an equivalent amount of time during the workday, for SESIS-related work. |
| Teachers (Special Education and General Education) | These employees should confer with their supervisors to discuss adjustments to their schedules, if needed, to incorporate sufficient time in the work day to perform SESIS-related work (e.g. professional activity assignment or time dedicated for Other Professional Work). |
| Vision and Hearing Teachers | These teachers shall use the time allocated for Other Professional Work (i.e. 35 minutes) per week or equivalent amount of time if the school has an alternative configuration. |
| Guidance Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists | These employees should confer with their supervisors to discuss adjustments to their schedules, if needed, to incorporate sufficient time in the work day to perform SESIS-related work. |
| Paraprofessionals | Paraprofessionals shall use the time allocated for Other Professional Work (i.e. 35 minutes) per week, or equivalent amount of time if a school has an alternative configuration, to perform SESIS-related work. |
Time dedicated for SESIS work should not impact/reduce the number of student sessions per day. In the event a staff member is able to complete his/her SESIS-related work in less than the time outlined above, s/he may be assigned to Professional Development, Parent Engagement and Other Professional Work consistent with his/her title.
Staff members may be allotted more time if needed at the discretion of the principal and/or supervisor. In addition, please remind staff that if they need assistance in prioritizing work or identifying time in their schedules to perform their SESIS-related work that you are available to review their schedule and work with them to address this issue.