1. We’re still waiting for the NYS budget to be released to know where we stand on Tier 6 reform.
2. Preference sheets information:
a. Fill out your top 3 choices for next school year even if you don’t plan on staying at your current school.
b. ALWAYS make a copy of your preference sheet. Save them for a few years to keep a paper trail.
c. If you didn’t get your first choice this year, you should (not mandatory for middle and high school teachers) get it next year. According to our contract, elementary school teachers may file a grievance if, “For two years in succession the elementary school teacher has been denied his/her first priority of program preference” (Article 7C1e, p.32). If there are any problems with your tentative schedule for next year, contact your chapter leader immediately because…
d. You have two days to file a reorganization grievance if there are any issues. The turnaround process to file a reorganization grievance is much quicker than other types of grievances.
e. You can request a co-teacher and/or ICT assignment, even if there isn’t a designated space to do so on the preference sheet.
f. Admin is not allowed to ask you if you plan on returning to the school next year or if you plan on retiring. If these questions appear, contact your chapter leader and/or district rep.
g. Elementary teachers should receive tentative programs by June 15.
h. Teachers in junior high schools and high schools should be informed of subjects, grade levels, any special or unusual classes to be taught no later than 10 school days prior to the end of the year.
i. Teachers in junior high schools should receive their programs no later than 5 days before the last day of school.
j. Teachers in high schools should receive their programs no later than the day before the last day of school.
k. Admin can amend teachers’ programs after the deadline, but teachers can grieve their amended program within two days of being notified.
3. UFT members on payroll as of 4/1/2026 should have already received or should soon be receiving their retention bonus. You must have worked at least 30 days between 4/1/25 and 3/21/26 to receive some sort of bonus. Based on how much time you’ve worked, your bonus may be prorated. If you’ve worked full-time over that stretch, you’re entitled to the full $1,000 (not including taxes). If you were hired after 4/1/25, you will get a prorated bonus. TDA contributions are deducted from the retention bonus.
Q Bank employees: Full time pedagogues (teachers, secretaries, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, lab specialists), paraprofessionals and substitute paraprofessionals) should receive their bonus on or around May 1.
H bank employees: Full-time school nurses, therapists, audiologists, sign language interpreters, education analysts/officers, associate education analysts/officers and administrative analysts/officers should receive their bonus on or around May 7.
4. The 2026-2027 school year calendar has finally been released. Teachers return September 8. Students return September 10. We teach remotely on Election Day. We do not get off for Easter Monday or the first day of Passover. The school year ends on June 28, which is within contract guidelines despite what others may say. According to Article 6C of the contract: “Teachers shall be in attendance on duty thereafter on all days of the school year except for the last two weekdays of the month of June.” Having said that, we have long winter and spring breaks, no real huge stretches without a day(s) off, and we come back from summer break nearly a week later than we did this year.
5. As of May 2026, all DOE employees who receive their regular, recurring paychecks via direct deposit, but who receive paper checks for per session work, will need to enroll in direct deposit for per session payments. Enrollment must be completed by May 28 via the DOE Payroll Portal. If you do not enroll by the May 28 deadline, per session checks issued as of June 16 and later will be direct deposited into the bank account currently used for your regular paycheck.
6. If you’re looking to transfer schools for the next school year, you may do so between mid April and early August without having to get a release from your principal. Open Market is officially up and running, but don’t expect to see many postings yet. Schools often/always wait to get their budgets for the next school year before releasing their postings. June, July, and (very early) August are the most opportune times to find a new position. After early August, you will not be able to transfer unless you are granted a release by your principal.
7. You can request to view your file whenever you want. Email your principal to arrange a suitable time. You can have any letter(s) removed three years after the latest incident referred to in the letter. If there is a disciplinary letter in your file that you were never informed about or that otherwise shouldn’t be there, take a picture of it and send an email to your principal (cc your chapter leader) stating that you want the letter removed. If this happens, be blunt in your email. You can say that you found something in your file that shouldn’t be there and ask them to let you know when to check your file again to make sure it’s no longer there, or else you will file a grievance.
8. Our current contract expires November 2027. The UFT is forming a negotiating committee for next year’s contract talks. The 2022 committee consisted of 500 members. The deadline to apply is May 14. You can apply here. You can also ask your chapter leader or district rep for more info on how to apply. A memberwide survey will be emailed at some point asking us about our wants and needs for the upcoming contract negotiations.
9. Three trustee candidates will run in the May TRS election. This is very important since the seven member board manages our pensions. The three potential candidates (Tom Brown, David Kazansky, and Frank Panebianco) all have experience in the position. Tom Brown is the incumbent. The other two are no longer members of Unity and do not currently hold trustee positions, although they served in the past. Voting will occur next week.
New Action - UFT 