Frequently Asked Questions
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A list of the most commonly asked questions.
If your certification is expiring you need to do the following:
- You will need to apply for the appropriate certificate through your Teach account.
- You will need to complete an OT 37 Verification of Paid Experience Form and submit to your Human Resource Director.
- Send an email to mentorverification [at] schools [dot] nyc [dot] gov (mentorverification[at]schools[dot]nyc[dot]gov) to submit your mentored experience.
- Follow up with a certification specialist in your UFT borough office, especially if you have further questions.
Every case is different. Arrests can have serious consequences. Members should speak to their private attorney and then to a UFT Representative in the Investigations Department.
Yes. The principal must be informed immediately in writing about all arrests.
Immediately.
All arrests, regardless of the issue involved, the location of the arrest, or when it took place MUST be immediately reported in writing to the Office of Personnel Investigations and your Principal. The best way is by e-mail to OPIarrestnotifiction [at] schools [dot] nyc [dot] gov (OPIarrestnotification[at]schools[dot]nyc[dot]gov) and cc your Principal.
DOE employees must immediately report all arrest to the Office of Personnel Administration and to their supervisor (Principal) in writing. DOE employees should email: OPIArrestNotification [at] schools [dot] nyc [dot] gov (OPIArrestNotification[at]schools[dot]nyc[dot]gov).
Checks for appointed pedagogues and annualized paraprofessionals are issued on a semi-monthly basis, on the 15th and 30th of each month.
You can verify your current pay by logging in to the DOE Payroll Portal: https://payrollportal.nycboe.net.
For more information about your salary, steps and differentials, you can go to the UFT website at: https://www.uft.org/your-rights/salary.
On your QPP retirement application, you must decide how your TDA funds will be distributed. You may receive your TDA funds as an annuity separate from your QPP retirement allowance. You may instead elect TDA Deferral status, and thereby defer distribution of your TDA funds past the initial payability date of your QPP retirement allowance. A third choice is to make a Direct Withdrawal, Direct Rollover, or Direct Transfer of all or part of your TDA funds; if you make a partial withdrawal, you may annuitize or defer your balance. For more information, please see the TDA Options at Retirement brochure.
You should not make a decision without first discussing these options with a UFT pension consultant.
If they are the retiree's pension beneficiary, they can contact the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) and the UFT Pension Department.
A member's beneficiary (or representative) must first submit a certified or original death certificate to TRS for the member; (s)he must also submit a Claimant's Statement (code DB17). TRS will inform them of additional documentation and forms they may have to file.
For more information, please see the Guide to Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Retired Members or the Guide to Death Benefits for Beneficiaries of Non-Retired Members.
It depends upon your years of service, your age of retirement, date of appointment, final average salary, and your pension tier, so it is highly individual. Attend a pension workshop or clinic to learn more. See upcoming events on the UFT website at: https://www.uft.org/your-benefits/pension/pension-clinics.
You are entitled to an individual preliminary pension consultation any time before you retire to answer your questions and get an estimate of your pension payments and other benefits. Call your UFT borough office for an appointment.
- Teachers in elementary schools who have served in a school for one year or longer should receive assignments for the next school year before June 15.
- Teachers in junior high schools and high schools should be informed of subjects, grade levels, any special or unusual classes to be taught no later than 10 school days prior to the end of the year.
- Teachers in Junior high schools should receive their programs no later than 5 days before the last day of school.
- Teachers in high schools should receive their programs no later than the day before the last day of school.
Note that administration has the right to issue amended programs after the above deadlines, but the teacher has the right to grieve within two days of receiving an amended program.