Summer Vacation is also Discontinuance Season in the UFT
While many of us are enjoying our summers, other UFT members are in a state of panic as they receive—or expect to receive—notices of discontinuance. Discontinuances are one of the oddest and cruelest fixtures of the DOE’s employment structure. With the stroke of a pen, a single principal can d
UFT: our tenure system is broken.
Over the last couple weeks, I’ve heard from fellow unionists about tenure decisions. April/May is ‘tenure’ season. But, it’s also ‘denial/extension’ season. This year, there seems to be an unusual amount of bad news. Some of the best teachers I know are being exte
Where we agree, where we disagree
From New Action’s May 2016 Leaflet Where We Agree We agree that 200 lawyers at Tweed is about 200 too many. But we need leadership that tells this to Fariña, sits down, and gets something done. We agree that the current funding formula for schools makes no sense, that principals are forced to
Discontinued Probationers
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the June 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: June June 2015 Leaflet Front This year New Action/UFT members have been meeting with discontinued probationers, UFT officials, and representatives of Chancellor Farina to discuss unfai
Cuomo’s War on Educators
Andrew Cuomo got much of what he wanted in his attack on NY state’s teachers. Tenure now will take four years. Fifty percent of our ratings will be based on standardized tests that our students take. It will be quicker to fire teachers. This set of changes is designed to “churn” teachers, t
Discontinued?
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the June 2014 Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: June 2014 Leaflet Front and back During the last decade under the Bloomberg / Klein administration principals have been given much greater power and autonomy. As we know too well, many pri
Coping with the new teacher evaluation
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the June 2013 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: Leaflet 2013 June Coping with the new teacher evaluation The system is here, like it or not. We are immediately faced with complexities: school-based committee to choose local measures, o
Teacher Evaluation and Binding Arbitration – No Way to Go!
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the February 2013 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: NA/UFT 02/2013 leaflet “Cuomo told Bloomberg and the United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew that if they can’t hammer out an agreement for an evaluation system b
New Tenure Plan
You Could Be Removed (after 2 years) before the Letters in Your File (after 3 years) New Action opposes the teacher evaluation system just proposed by the Board of Regents, with support from the NYSUT and UFT leaderships. The proposal would base a significant part of each teacher’s rating, up to 4
JOEL KLEIN’S ORDER TO PRINCIPALS TO TIE STUDENT TEST SCORES TO TENURE DECISIONS
Last week Chancellor Klein instructed principals to use student test scores for granting tenure to teachers. This is another example of how the Mayor and Chancellor have declared war against the UFT. From the Mayor’s speech in Washington, DC last fall, attacking ATRs, against tenure, and tying