WHEREAS, it is not the responsibility of workers to compensate for a broken system through unpaid labor, and all labor has inherent value; and

WHEREAS, special education teachers play a crucial role in developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that are essential for the success of students with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, special education is a high need and hard-to-staff license area; and

WHEREAS, high staff turnover due to work-related stress is detrimental for students with special needs; and

WHEREAS, the process of writing IEPs is both collaborative and demanding, requiring sufficient time and focus during contractual hours; and

WHEREAS, requiring special education teachers to complete IEP documentation outside of their defined work hours increases stress and undermines their effectiveness; and

WHEREAS, the SESIS arbitration establishes that extra compensation is warranted for work performed outside of designated work hours for IEP writing; and

WHEREAS, all union members share the responsibility to uphold equitable working conditions and support one another in this endeavor; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the United Federation of Teachers calls on all members to adhere to the principle that IEP writing should occur exclusively during contractual work hours; be it further

RESOLVED, that the union collectively commit to fostering a culture of solidarity in this initiative, recognizing that respecting defined work hours is a shared responsibility that benefits the entire educational community; finally be it

RESOLVED that the union engage with the DOE to ensure the implementation of policies that uphold this expectation, affirming our commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of all educators.