Frequently Asked Questions
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A list of the most commonly asked questions.
In order to change a license/appointment, you must have the certificate needed for the new appointment and a principal’s recommendation to fill a vacancy in the new area. Teachers who change their license/appointment area go back on probation for at least three years if they are tenured in the previous area and four years if they were not tenured. There is also an effect on seniority for excessing and layoff. Be very careful about making this kind of change, especially when budgets may necessitate layoffs and excessing. Speak to your UFT chapter leader or borough office before deciding.
No, the regular class size limits apply.
Yes, there must be a protocol meeting prior to the commencement of an SCA construction and renovation project and the UFT chapter leader must be present. There also must be a protocol meeting prior to the commencement of DOE Division of School Facilities (DSF) repair, renovation and/or construction work that will disturb/involve more than 100 square feet of building materials.
More details about the protocols that must be followed can be found in the UFT Protocol Checklist for SCA Construction Projects in Schools or the UFT/DSF Pre-Construction Protocol Checklist. For PCB-containing light fixture removal and replacement projects, you should consult the UFT/DSF/NYPA Pre-Construction Protocol Checklist. If you have questions or concerns about a construction project in your building, please contact the health and safety representative at your UFT borough office.
If you find damaged or disturbed building materials such as plaster or floor tiles, assume these materials contain potentially hazardous materials until otherwise noted and contact your UFT borough health and safety representative. Similarly, damaged or disturbed exterior caulk may contain PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Contact the health and safety representative at your UFT borough office.
Collaborative Team Teaching is now referred to as Integrated Co-Teaching. The number of students with disabilities in an Integrated Co-Teaching class may not exceed 40 percent of the total class register with a maximum of 12 students with disabilities. The class as a whole must adhere to general education class size limits.
When a teacher is notified that she is in excess, she should register on the Open Market System for purposes of providing updated contact information. She will also have access to a list of current vacancies throughout the city and the right to apply to of them in her license area.
As of the summer of 2021, in most cases, the DOE no longer places newly excessed staff in the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) pool. Staff members who do not find a position via Open Market will be placed in a school in their district and remain there until they transfer or leave the system.
Excessing is not a layoff. A person in excess is not out of a job. You will continue to work and receive your full pay and benefits. You can check your status (Excessed or Not Excessed) on the online Open Market Transfer system. This is helpful, because receiving an excess letter from your principal does not guarantee that you are excessed. After the letter is written, the DOE will review and either approve or rescind the excess.
As of the summer of 2021, in most cases, the DOE no longer places newly excessed staff in the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) pool. If a staff member does not find a position via Open Market, they will be placed in a school in their district and remain there until they transfer or leave the system.
Class sizes and staffing ratios (including teachers and paraprofessionals) in self-contained special education classes are determined by the needs of the students as reflected in their IEPs. The ratios are based on state regulations and NYC Department of Education policy. They may be as low as six students to one teacher and one paraprofessional for those with very high needs to 12 or 15 students in elementary/middle and high school respectively with one teacher. Speak to your UFT chapter leader or UFT borough office if you have a question about the size of your class.
According to the UFT/DOE contract, you must be informed in writing by June 15 if you are at risk of being excessed for the next school year, but it is still possible to be excessed after that date due to changes in enrollment or the budget.
If the school’s budget or a drop in enrollment requires a reduction in staff, the principal decides which license area(s) to reduce positions in. Excessing in those licenses is done in inverse seniority order; that is, the person with the least seniority in that license (based on total citywide seniority) is declared in excess.