Administrators can observe teachers for evaluative purposes at any time after the Initial Planning Conference and then through the first Friday in June. In addition, half the required minimum number of observations must take place in the fall term and half in the spring. You should not be observed during the spring window until you receive the final required evaluator form for all required observations during the fall window. 

Here are the specific timelines:
Fall Window: From the Initial Planning Conference to the last day of the fall term
Spring Window: From the start of the spring term to the first Friday in June

No, but you can, if you would like to discuss that with your evaluator. Teachers have sole discretion for setting goals and/or selecting an area of focus.

An IPC is an in-person conversation with an evaluator conducted at a mutually-agreed upon time no later than the last Friday in October. The IPC gives teachers an opportunity to discuss previous evaluations, current classes, and plans for the coming year.

Feedback is non-evaluative information about an observation that you should receive within ten days of an observation. The feedback can be via email, written, or face-to-face. Teachers can indicate a preference for the format of their feedback during their Initial Planning Conference. 

In this feedback, your evaluator must tell you whether the observation will be used for evaluative purposes. Your evaluator must provide you with an evaluator form no later than 30 school days after your observation. 

From the time an observation is conducted until the time you receive the evaluator form for it, your evaluator may conduct only one additional evaluative observation (formal or informal). 

An evaluator cannot demand that a teacher provide a hard copy of the day’s lesson plan on the spot. When observing a lesson, a supervisor has the right to see the plan of the lesson being taught. The supervisor may take a photo of the plan or ask that the teacher provide the plan at a later time. However, requiring teachers to make and maintain a copy of each of their lesson plans for every class in the event of an unannounced visit is not permitted.

Formal observations are those that last a full period, are scheduled by mutual agreement between you and your evaluator, and involve individual pre- and post-observation conferences with your evaluator. Informal observations last a minimum of 15 minutes and may be unannounced. They do not require pre- and post- observations conferences. Nothing precludes an administrator from conducting such conferences.

Only administrators may conduct observations for evaluative purposes. No more than one evaluator and two school-based observers should be present during your observations. The superintendent and deputy superintendent are considered school-based for this purpose.

Paraprofessionals can apply for a leave of absence using SOLAS (Self-Service Online Leave Application System). It is an online system where employees may easily apply for a leave of absence from their computers or smartphones. Eligible leaves include: Personal Illness, Pregnancy Related Disability, Illness in Immediate Family, Maternity/Childcare, Teaching, Study, School Secretary, School Secretary Assistant, Workers’ Compensation and Military Duty. There is also a leave for Student Teaching which is applied for under a different system than SOLAS. Paraprofessionals may also be eligible to take a UFT parental leave. See more information about leaves of absence »

Paraprofessionals can also take a leave if they are pursing teaching credentials in order to fulfill student teaching requirements. Learn more »

Paraprofessionals who have been arrested will no longer be automatically suspended without pay, under the DOE’s updated policy, to resolve the UFT’s union-initiated grievance that challenged the unfairness of automatic suspensions. 

Paraprofessionals will now have a new review procedure to determine if a suspension without pay is warranted. They will also have a new process to speed up the time it takes to receive back pay and sick days when a suspended paraprofessional is exonerated. Through this arbitration, paraprofessionals gained rights both upon arrest and once the charges are adjudicated. Paraprofessionals who are arrested will now have that arrest reviewed to determine if the nature of the arrest warrants suspension.

If You Are Arrested:

• Notify your supervisor and OPI in writing: email the principal and OPI (opiarrestnotification [at] schools [dot] nyc [dot] gov (opiarrestnotification[at]schools[dot]nyc[dot]gov)) and attach a copy of the criminal court complaint or fax (718-935-4366) if necessary but the paraprofessional should have a receipt
• Report to school unless told otherwise by the Board in writing
• Notify your UFT Chapter Leader and/or District Representative

Educational paraprofessionals who work in activities other than their regular assignments are paid a per session rate for the hours worked. Per session is a positive payment that is issued along with regular payments. Because per session is a positive payment, activities processed to payroll, lag one (1) payroll period. To determine your per session rate, divide your annual salary by 1,375.