Yes, the parent can make an audio recording of the IEP team meeting if the parent requests permission to make the recording in writing to the principal or chairperson at least one business day before the IEP meeting. If the parent makes an audio recording of the IEP meeting, the school/CSE will also make an audio recording of the meeting.

For more information see the DOE's Special Education Standard Operating Procedures Manual and see the topic: "The IEP Team, Members Required at All IEP Meetings, Recording the IEP Meeting"

Aspiring teachers will find more information about various pathways for certified and uncertified teachers here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/careers/teachers/aspiring-teachers.

You can find more information, including an application, on the NYC DOE website here: http://teachnyc.net,  but don’t stop there! Make a list of schools you’d like to work in and send an individualized cover letter and resume to the principal.

Social workers, guidance counselors, and psychologists will find information about working for the DOE here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/careers/social-workers-guidance-counselors-and-psychologists.

Learn about other jobs in schools here: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/careers/other-jobs-in-schools.

You can find information about each school by entering an address, school code or name here: https://schoolsearch.schools.nyc.

Before you retire you have:

• The right to borrow from your TRS account.
• The right to participate in the TRS tax-deferred annuity program.
• Benefits for your family if you die after one year of service.

After you retire you receive:

• A guaranteed pension check every month for life.
• Medical, dental and optical benefits to protect your family, for most retirees.
• If you choose, optional benefits to protect your family after your death.
• If you have at least 10 years of credited service and disability forces you to retire early, you may be eligible for disability retirement income.
• The ability to join SHIP, the UFT's Supplemental Health Insurance Program.

Many are posted on the DOE website, organized by both subject and regulation number. 

Even as an untenured teacher, excessing does not mean that you are out of a job. When you are excessed, you lose your position in your school, but you do not lose your job, your salary or your medical benefits. You will have the opportunity to find another position, and if you do not, you will be placed in a school in your district, or elsewhere in your borough if there is a school with a vacancy or a long-term leave coverage need in your license area.

No, schools must meet the mandates for special education and ENL. Sometimes schools attempt to excess a person who is mandated in order for a school to be in compliance, but DOE reviews those excesses and often stops them from happening.

There could be an excessing condition at a given 3-K/pre-K site. In such a case, excessing would be done in reverse seniority order. Early childhood-licensed teachers are grouped with common branch teachers, so the least senior teachers with those two licenses would be excessed.

Your citywide seniority is used—the amount of time you have been working for the DOE. That is compared to the citywide seniority of the other teachers in your school who have the same license as you. In an excessing situation, the least senior person is excessed. Learn more about  how to read a seniority list. 

Excessing is based on budget and student enrollment. When the budget or student enrollment drops, that can result in an excessing condition. Principals have a discretion, subject to review and approval, in determining which programs or license areas might get dropped, but in all cases, the least senior person within that area will be excessed first. The DOE reviews and will either approve or rescind a principal's excessing decision. 

Yes, in May 2020, the DOE negotiated new rules for certification, licensing and/or probation for teachers who hold a library license, for teachers of performing arts/drama and for teachers assigned to a special education program who have a non-special education license. For more details about the regulations and provisions for these licensing and certification changes, see the DOE licensing letter which provides more detailed information.