United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew today announced that the union is establishing a new prerequisite for mayoral candidates who want to be considered for the UFT endorsement: spend a day teaching — alongside professional educators — in a New York City public school.

"Mayoral candidates have traditionally promised to listen to educators and to base their education policies on the recommendations of the people doing the work. Then they get in City Hall and all that goes out the window," said UFT President Michael Mulgrew, who started his education career as a high school teacher in Brooklyn. "We have offered classroom time to candidates and elected officials, but they don't take us up on it. So today we are on the record — if you want our endorsement you have to understand the work we do."

For mayoral candidates to be eligible for the UFT endorsement, they will need to spend at least seven periods in a public-school classroom, helping the teacher and paraprofessional with lessons, classroom management, and whatever needs to be done to keep the students engaged.

“From arrival to dismissal and everything in between — it will be a full, lived experience with our students for a day, " said Vanecia Wilson, UFT Political Director, who started her education career as an elementary teacher in Brooklyn.

"Working with children is a life-changing experience. To understand, you need to spend time in a classroom, in our shoes, without cameras," said Renee Freeman, a 20-year paraprofessional and now an advocate for special education students with the most challenges.

“If elected officials are going to speak about education, they should visit schools and listen to the educators and students," said Nicole Keaster, a middle school English teacher in Queens. "True understanding takes time and commitment. But a day in a classroom could be the first step."

The UFT will work with educators and the Department of Education to identify classrooms and will accompany candidates to ensure a constructive experience. In this election cycle, the classroom experience requirement will only be extended to mayoral candidates.