UFT members have specific rights regarding program preferences and professional activities. Here’s what you should know before you make your requests.
Program preferences
Each spring, teachers complete a program preference sheet where they indicate the class/es they would like to teach in order of preference, and rank them by priority from one to three. In high schools that reorganize each term, teachers will submit a preference sheet for the spring term as well.
Teachers on probation should ensure that they choose classes in their appointed license area as teaching out of license can affect tenure. Special education teachers should indicate the age range of special education classes desired, as well as the special education program designation you want to teach, in priority order.
Requests for special teaching positions (cluster positions) or compensatory time positions are not indicated on a preference sheet and should be made in separate applications to your principal as they are posted and become available.
Professional activity options
Secondary school teachers and elementary school teachers in eight-period schools are programmed for professional activity period(s) . As part of the preference process, teachers select three professional activities from a menu and rank them in priority order of preference. See more information about professional activity options »
Your principal must meet with your chapter leader by April 15th each year to consult on the professional activity menu including the number of positions for each activity, and the qualifications, duties and responsibilities for each activity on the menu. The list of professional activities were expanded in the 2023 contract. See more about professional activity procedures and the expanded list of options.
Professional activity procedures
As part of the preference process, teachers will indicate the three professional activities from the menu they prefer in priority order. The principal should notify you of the activity selected before the end of the school year.
If you are not given one of your three choices, you may select another three choices from the menu. If the principal involuntarily assigns you to an administrative activity (e.g., cafeteria duty, hall patrol, am/pm duty), it should be assigned in inverse seniority. You cannot be assigned involuntarily to an administrative duty the following year.
Read more from our contract
To see what the contract says about program preference, read articles 7A1, 7B1, 7C1 and 7K1.