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Frequently Asked Questions

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A list of the most commonly asked questions.

How do Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers apply for salary credit for prior work experience?

To apply for salary credit for prior work experience, CTE teachers must fill out the DOE’s credit for prior experience form and email it to SalaryDifferentialApplications [at] schools [dot] nyc [dot] gov (SalaryDifferentialApplications[at]schools[dot]nyc[dot]gov)
See more about salary differentials and prior work experience credit for CTE teachers.

A member of my immediate family is graduating and I need the day off. Do I have to use my CAR days to attend?

It depends on the type of ceremony, the location and your job title: 

Pedagogues and paraprofessionals:

  • One day with principal’s or supervisor’s permission to attend their graduation or that of a parent, child, step-child, spouse or registered domestic partner;
  • Graduation must involve a ceremony marking the award of a diploma or degree (actual certificate) by a recognized school or institution of higher learning. This also includes graduation ceremonies that are held virtually;
  • If graduation is in a remote location, the superintendent can grant approval for up to an additional two days;
  • Kindergarten, pre-K, 5th and 6th grades are excluded;
  • If elementary school goes up to the 8th grade and students go from there to high school, then this is allowed in lieu of the usual junior high school graduation from the ninth grade;
  • Upon return to work, download and complete the OP201 form.

 
Administrative titles (nurses, therapists):

  • One day for employee to receive a degree form a college or university;
  • One day to attend the graduation of a child or grandchild from kindergarten, elementary school, intermediate school, junior high school, high school or college or to attend the college graduation of a spouse or domestic partner;
  • Upon return to work, download and complete the PD19 form.
I just received my first paycheck as a new teacher but the DOE made a negative adjustment to the amount. Why did that happen and when will I be paid in full?

If you started working on the first day of school (for example, on 9/4), your first check (for example, distributed on 9/14), will be less than the regular, full amount. This is because there are days in the pay cycle (in this example, 9/1 through 9/3) which you did not work.  These non-working days may be shown on your paycheck as a negative adjustment.

This only affects new hires on payroll banks Q742 (pedagogues) and Q744 (paraprofessionals), who are paid semi-monthly.

Your second paycheck will reflect a full pay period. 

How can I submit documents to the DOE via HR Connect?

The DOE's HR Connect portal permits users to upload forms and files. Once you have logged into your account, you can submit supporting documents to HR Connect and it is no longer necessary to send them via fax. See step-by-step instructions for how to upload documents to HR Connect. 

Is it possible to donate days from my CAR bank to a sick colleague?

Pedagogical employees may donate CAR days to another employee only if the recipient has a catastrophic sickness. The recipient does not have to be a pedagogical employee and may belong to a different payroll bank. However, DOE employees cannot donate or receive accrued time to or from an employee at another NYC agency.

  • For every 2 sick days/CAR days donated, the recipient receives 1 day of leave.
  • The donor cannot have a balance of more than 180 days or less than 50 days. 
  • The recipient must have exhausted all earned sick leave and optional borrowed time.


To donate CAR days: 

  1. Use the DOE's CAR transfer form.
  2. Complete the form, following the instructions and submit it to your payroll secretary or timekeeper. 
  3. Forms can be faxed to DOE payroll at 718-935-5561 - fax is the preferred method. You can send the forms via email to payrollinquiry [at] schools [dot] nyc [dot] gov (payrollinquiry[at]schools[dot]nyc[dot]gov) only if you do not have access to a fax. Please note that processing of the forms submitted via email may experience a considerable delay. 
Can I cash/deposit my paycheck before the date that is printed on the check?

If you still receive a paper paycheck, you should not cash or deposit it prior to the date printed on the check. New York City has an "early encashment" fee of $55 that they place on each checks that is deposited or cashed before the date printed on the check. Do not cash or deposit your paycheck until the date that is printed on the check to avoid this fee. 

If you incur an early encashment fee, it will be deducted from a future paycheck by the NYC Office of Payroll Administration (OPA). The deduction code on your paystub will be "7056 EARLY CHARGE." 

You will be charged a fee of $55 for each check cashed or deposited before its check date. However, if more than two paychecks have been deposited or cashed early, no more than $110 will be deducted at a time from a single paycheck, and fees may be incurred on future paychecks. 

Your bank may also impose a separate fee, or they may also void the check completely. If they do void the check, you will need to have your paycheck replaced. You must work with your payroll secretary or your payroll specialist at a borough citywide office (BCO) to place a stop payment on the previous check so that a new one can be issued for you. A stop payment cannot be processed until the check date. 

Can co-teachers in an Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) class cover for each other during preparation periods?

No. Two teachers--one general education and one special education--must be present for all periods of ICT instruction required by students' IEPs. Co-teachers may not cover for each other during preparation periods. 

What is DASA training?

The Dignity for All Students Act mandates that anyone applying for a New York State teaching license or certificate after December 31, 2013 complete six hours of training on harassment, bullying and discrimination in schools.

What should I do if my principal includes guidance in a staff/school handbook that contradicts our UFT contract?

Speak with your chapter leader or district representative. While a handbook may reiterate an existing provision of a collective bargaining agreement or Chancellor’s Regulation, a handbook cannot be contrary to or modify a provision of a collective bargaining agreement or Chancellor’s Regulation and a handbook cannot create a new term or condition of employment that is not in a collective bargaining agreement, Chancellor’s Regulation or existing official DOE policy. The DOE has written that school staff may not be held accountable for provisions of any school handbook or other communication that is inconsistent with collective bargaining agreements or Chancellor's Regulations. See the DOE guidance on school handbooks »

What help can the UFT provide if students are not receiving the support and services required by their IEPs or the school is not adhering to the special education regulations and requirements set out in the DOE’s Standard Operating Procedures Manual?

There are two avenues for resolving special education issues: your school’s Special Education Committee or the special education complaint.

Issues that can be brought to the Special Education Committee include the failure to properly staff special education classes, using integrated co-teaching teachers to provide coverage for absent teachers, violations of class size limits for special classes, failure to staff paraprofessional positions, combining special classes for clusters and physical education, and late arrival or early departure of school buses. The committee meets with the principal in the fall and spring and as needed during the rest of the school year.

A special education complaint should be filed for any issues specific to individual students, such as IEP program and service recommendations based on administrative considerations rather than student need. Other topics best handled through the special education complaint process include school budgeting for special education programs and services, violations of the rules governing ICT class size and composition, failure to process in a timely fashion parent referrals and staff member requests for special education referral, and the failure to provide behavior management training for paraprofessionals who work with students with behavior intervention plans.

Also see the DOE's Special Education Standard Operation Procedures Manual (SOPM) for reference.