Retiree Advocate Delegate Assembly

UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
52 Broadway
New York City 10004
Delegate Assembly Minutes
January 15, 2025
President Mulgrew called the meeting to order.
President Mulgrew’s report:
We are at the beginning of the city and state budget process.
There is a resolution circulating at today’s meeting to collect money for disaster relief for students
and staff affected by the California fires.
Mulgrew met with CEC presidents and parents last week. Their biggest concern is how the new
administration will affect the public school system. The state is in charge of its education system.
The reason that the federal government became involved was to help states overcome poverty and
help students with disabilities. When Race to the Top was instituted, it created a separate pot of
money and in order to be eligible certain policies had to be adopted. The fear now is that they are
going to try to tie this money to Title 1. We have set up all sorts of contingencies. We are in contact
with our state, congressional delegation, senators from New York, as well as, the AFT and lots of
people all across this country.
The DOE has given training to principals on what to do if ICE agents go into the schools. We have
had many discussions. There is an understanding that schools should always be safe zones.
Yesterday was the official kick off for the legislative and budget session. We should be very proud of
the governor’s agenda and proposals made at the state of the state address because it is about
working with the middle class and stabilizing families economically so they can work and live in
New York. There are proposed increases in childcare tax incentives and heavy duty investments in
education. There are also housing programs to get the down payment for a first house which now
has become a massive obstacle for many young families. She also wants to increase state troopers
and NYPD in subways by about 1,600. In addition, she wants to deal with the mental health crisis in
the city.
We have done a lot of work with NYSUT on the issue of cell phones in schools. We were close to
having a ban last year in this school system. The city’s administration chose not to do it at the last
minute. We then pivoted to the state. Many schools already have a cell phone ban in place. We
need to do this as a school system. These cell phones cause so much damage to our children in
terms of mental health. The surgeon general has said this is the number one health crisis for
adolescents in the United States.
Foundation Aid will be fully funded. We will have the money for the reduction of class size in NYC.
Thanks to all the schools that applied.
The city’s budget will be presented tomorrow. The mayor’s interpretation will probably be the same
it’s been every year since this administration has been in place such as saying the city is broke and
the sky is falling despite billions and billions of dollars in reserves.
The current city council members have stood up to the mayor. Rita Joseph has been a phenomenal
Chair of Education. There will be a change in the city council leadership because of term limits.
There are now 12 open city council seats. There is an open race for comptroller. We are not sure if
the mayor’s race will be for re-election or if it will be open. The petitioning begins in February and it
ends April 4. There will be many interviews in order to vet candidates and then after
recommendations will be made. The questions will be about education, school funding, employee
and union rights.
On Friday, we met with all NYC superintendents, district representatives and field representatives.
We wanted to make sure that everyone was on the same page after receiving the letter from
Mulgrew and the Chancellor on literacy policies about paperwork, pacing and assessments. If
there are any issues, chapter leaders should put them into their consultation notes. Chapter
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leaders now have more authority and rights than ever at the school level, but they must be utilized.
If the issue is not resolved, it automatically goes to district consultation.
This week the Chancellor will meet with a group of high school and middle school math teachers.
She admitted there was a problem at an interview with Marcia Kramer and said she was working
with the union to resolve it.
Please include paras in your consultation committees. The UFT has helped to recruit and process
1,600 paras in the last month. We need paraprofessionals. Without them unnecessary stress is put
on the rest of the staff. We need to have schools staffed appropriately.
There needs to be a substitute plan in place for ELL’s and ICT’s. Schools have to pay for substitutes
out of their budget. Some schools have substitute pools. Please bring this up in consultation or at
special education committees.
There is a new special education department at the DOE. It’s called the Division of Inclusive and
Accessible Learning (DIAL). There has always been an attempt to reform Special Education. They
want to reduce the number of children in D. 75 because of per pupil cost. No one ever talks to D.75
to find out what they need to get real support. These members have learned how to function on
their own. Thanks to all who attended the D. 75 weekend.
We did not get the injunction on congestion pricing from the judge. However, the judge found that
there was complete validity in the constitutional question and in the environmental question. We
are more optimistic than most. We are moving forward.
The eyeglasses benefits have increased. We noticed an increase in the purchase of eyeglasses in
the last month.
TRS now covers all of the titles that were in BERS. Thanks to all the OT’s and PT’s who spearheaded
this process. We will have in-person and virtual information sessions.
We will get the state funding needed for class size. We are reviewing all the applications that were
sent. There are 30 schools that have not submitted the program that shows where they’re hiring
teachers. We are reaching out to those schools. The money received from the state will be
recurring. If there is not enough space in a school, a waiver is granted. That gives the city 5 years to
come up with a plan. We will meet with the Division of School Facilities and the School
Construction Authority. Certain schools can have additional space built. Other schools that do not
have extra space can have additional floors added. In certain cases, a class is very popular so the
recommendation would be to cap the class or find an additional teacher to teach it. That’s a
decision that has to be reached at the school level.
The 3% raise kicks in on January 18, but it will appear retroactively in checks on February 15.
The $700 bonus will be received on or about May 1. The next raise is September 13.
We are headed toward the end of the 1st semester of the school year.
At the next Delegate Assembly Mulgrew will share the legislative funding agenda and 55 for Tier 6.
NYSUT and the UFT would like an additional tax credit for educators to reimburse what is spent out
of pocket for supplies.
Staff Director LeRoy Barr’s report:

1. The UFT’s election season is upon us. Nominating petitions will be available at the next
   Delegate Assembly on Wednesday, February 12, at the borough offices and on our website.
   They are due back at the UFT on March 17.
2. Teachers’Choice accountability forms should be returned to the payroll secretary by Friday,
   January 17.
3. The African Heritage Dinner/Dance will take place on February 7 at Antun’s in Queens.
4. The UFT Black History Film series begins on January 30 with Little White Lie. Then on
   February 6 the film will be Never Too Much, the Luther Vandross documentary. On February
   27 the film that will be shown is Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power and on
   March 6 the film will be Fundi: The Story of Ella Baker.
5. The UFT Asian American Heritage Lunar New Year Banquet will be on Friday, February 28 at
   the House of Joy in Chinatown.
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6. Happy birthday to Dr. King. Today is his actual birthday.
7. The next Delegate Assembly is February 12.
   Total # of delegates in attendance: 2,034
   Motion: For next month’s agenda:
   Resolution on union interference: Interference in the UFT’s election from non-members
   (individuals and outside organizations)
   Whereas the constitution of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is the guiding document for all
   activities within our union including, but not limited to, membership, meetings, and our elections;
   and
   Whereas the UFT’s rank and file membership includes NYC DOE Paraprofessionals, School
   Secretaries, Teachers, School Counselors, Audiologists, Sign Language Interpreters, Speech,
   Occupational and Physical Therapists, Social Workers, Education Officers and Analysts,
   Administrative Education Officers and Analysts, Hearing Officers, Nurses, Supervisors of Nurses
   and Supervising Therapists, Lab Specialists and Lab Technicians, Social Workers and Psychologists
   and Family Childcare Providers, both in service and retirees; and
   Whereas the UFT is focused on advocating for the rights and interests of our members; and
   Whereas the UFT does not and will not interfere with activities, especially the elections, of other
   unions; and
   Whereas we currently have a non-member individual and group interfering with the UFT’s elections;
   therefore, be it
   Resolved that individuals, groups, and organizations that do not have membership in the UFT or are
   not included under the UFT’s constitution should NOT have a voice in the activities of the UFT; be it
   further
   Resolved that individuals, groups, or organizations that do not have membership in the UFT, should
   not be allowed to interfere in the UFT’s elections.
   Carried
   Remote: 514 yes; 428 no
   In-person: 156 yes; 134 no
   Totals: 670 yes; 562 no
   Motion: To approve the following:
   RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF TEACHER VOICE IN THE USE OF P-12 CURRICULA
   Whereas the New York City Department of Education mandated that school districts use one of
   three literacy curricula in grades kindergarten to five based on the Science of Reading, each of
   which incorporates a formal assessment component, and
   Whereas many secondary school algebra teachers have been required to use the Illustrative Math
   curriculum, a new math curriculum with different terminology, processes, and pacing to which
   many students are unaccustomed and therefore students lack the necessary foundations, and
   Whereas there is a place in our schools for curricula that are research-based and developmentally
   appropriate, and
   Whereas administrators in schools and central DOE have harped on “fidelity” to the curricula,
   regardless of the readiness of actual students or the recommendations of its educators, and
   Whereas the diversity of our students within schools and across schools is what makes the New
   York City public schools great, and
   D.A. Minutes
   Page 4 – 1/15/2025
   Whereas teachers constantly make instructional decisions based on their own assessments of
   students’ educational experiences and learning styles, and

Whereas each teacher’s ability to implement instructional strategies and incorporate appropriate
activities in their classrooms are integral parts of the professional responsibility of our members,
and
Whereas one UFT member is worth at least 100 consultants,
Resolved that the UFT continue to support and defend a teacher’s right to adapt the curriculum to
benefit their students and to use teacher-created assessments based on their own knowledge of
students’ work, which enables the teacher to evaluate both the skills of students and the efficacy of
the curriculum and instruction, and be it further
Resolved that the UFT oppose the administrative and bureaucratic evaluation of “fidelity” or
“integrity” or other related catchphrases to a curriculum based on prescriptive pacing calendars
that do not recognize differences in students or schools, and be it further
Resolved that the UFT Teacher Center continue to assist and support teachers in all aspects of the
Science of Reading, especially the assessment component, and be it further
Resolved that the UFT will continue to fight for the professional autonomy of our members and
against administrators who value DOE vendors more than UFT members.
Motion: To amend by inserting after the 2nd resolved clause:
Resolved that the UFT will advocate to establish trained and compensated teacher-led curriculum
committees at the school and district levels to ensure curriculum development is teacher-driven
and rooted in the state’s culturally responsive framework.
Carried
Remote: 836 yes; 72 no
In-person: 257 yes; 19 no
Totals: 1,093 yes; 91 no
Motion: As amended:
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF TEACHER VOICE IN THE USE OF P-12 CURRICULA
Whereas the New York City Department of Education mandated that school districts use one of
three literacy curricula in grades kindergarten to five based on the Science of Reading, each of
which incorporates a formal assessment component, and
Whereas many secondary school algebra teachers have been required to use the Illustrative Math
curriculum, a new math curriculum with different terminology, processes, and pacing to which
many students are unaccustomed and therefore students lack the necessary foundations, and
Whereas there is a place in our schools for curricula that are research-based and developmentally
appropriate, and
Whereas administrators in schools and central DOE have harped on “fidelity” to the curricula,
regardless of the readiness of actual students or the recommendations of its educators, and
Whereas the diversity of our students within schools and across schools is what makes the New
York City public schools great, and
Whereas teachers constantly make instructional decisions based on their own assessments of
students’ educational experiences and learning styles, and

Whereas each teacher’s ability to implement instructional strategies and incorporate appropriate
activities in their classrooms are integral parts of the professional responsibility of our members,
and
D.A. Minutes
Page 5 – 1/15/2025
Whereas one UFT member is worth at least 100 consultants,
Resolved that the UFT continue to support and defend a teacher’s right to adapt the curriculum to
benefit their students and to use teacher-created assessments based on their own knowledge of
students’ work, which enables the teacher to evaluate both the skills of students and the efficacy of
the curriculum and instruction, and be it further
Resolved that the UFT oppose the administrative and bureaucratic evaluation of “fidelity” or
“integrity” or other related catchphrases to a curriculum based on prescriptive pacing calendars
that do not recognize differences in students or schools, and be it further
Resolved that the UFT will advocate to establish trained and compensated teacher-led curriculum
committees at the school and district levels to ensure curriculum development is teacher-driven
and rooted in the state’s culturally responsive framework; and be it further
Resolved that the UFT Teacher Center continue to assist and support teachers in all aspects of the
Science of Reading, especially the assessment component, and be it further
Resolved that the UFT will continue to fight for the professional autonomy of our members and
against administrators who value DOE vendors more than UFT members.
Carried
Remote: 736 yes; 42 no
In-person: 262 yes; 7 no
Totals: 998 yes; 49 no
Motion: To approve the following:
RESOLUTION TO ENSURE EQUITABLE FUNDING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION
FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

WHEREAS, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide essential pathways to career
success and economic mobility for thousands of New York City students, and
WHEREAS, CTE programs have demonstrated significant positive outcomes, including higher
graduation rates, increased college enrollment, and better career preparation, with CTE
concentrators having a graduation rate 10 percentage points higher than the national average, and
WHEREAS, despite their proven effectiveness, many CTE programs face chronic underfunding,
inadequate resources, and outdated equipment that does not align with current industry
standards, and
WHEREAS, inequitable funding patterns have disproportionately affected CTE programs in
historically underserved communities, limiting access to high-quality career preparation for
students who could benefit most, and

WHEREAS, the cost of maintaining industry-standard equipment, securing qualified instructors,
and providing necessary materials for hands-on learning experiences continues to rise, and
WHEREAS, high-quality CTE programs require ongoing partnerships with industry professionals,
regular curriculum updates, and continuous professional development for educators, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED that the UFT calls upon the New York City Department of Education and the New York
State Education Department to establish dedicated funding streams for CTE programs at the
federal and state levels that ensure equitable distribution of resources across all boroughs and
communities, and be it further
RESOLVED that the UFT advocates for additional funding at the federal and state levels, beyond
Carl Perkins funding, specifically for CTE programs to cover essential equipment, materials,
professional development, teacher externships, and industry certification costs, and be it further
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RESOLVED that the UFT will work with the CTE Advisory Committee, comprising educators,
industry partners, and community stakeholders, to implement these initiatives, with periodic
public reporting on progress to ensure accountability and prioritize equitable resource distribution
to historically underserved communities.
Carried
Remote: 788 yes; 14 no
In-person: 261 yes; 3 no
Totals: 1,049 yes; 17 no
Motion: To approve the following:
SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL TIME FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS TO WORK ON IEPS
WHEREAS, special education teachers are responsible for creating and maintaining IEPs which
requires detailed, individualized progress monitoring to ensure that students with disabilities
receive appropriate support and accommodations; and
WHEREAS, the process of writing, reviewing and revising IEPs is time-consuming and involves
collaboration with parents, general education teachers and other specialists, requiring significant
attention and focus; and
WHEREAS, many special education teachers are already managing heavy caseloads, balancing
teaching responsibilities, lesson planning, specially designed instruction, behavioral management
and other administrative tasks, leaving limited time to complete IEP -related work during the school
day; and
WHEREAS, research shows that providing teachers with dedicated time for writing IEPs can
improve the quality of the IEPs, ensure better outcomes for students with disabilities, and reduce
teacher burnout, which ultimately enhances job satisfaction and retention of special education
teachers, and area experiencing significant staffing shortages; and
WHEREAS, while special education teachers can use the Other Professional Work time to
complete this work, this time is often needed to collaborate with teacher teams for co-planning and
not all schools have a schedule with Other Professional Work time; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the UFT work to achieve an agreement with the DOE that special education
teachers be permitted to select the professional assignment of “perform student assessment
activities (including IEPs)” and that this choice will be honored if selected; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the UFT will continue to fight for additional time during the school day for special
education teachers to work on IEPs to ensure that students with disabilities receive the best
possible educational experience and so that teachers can fulfill their professional responsibilities
effectively.
Motion: To amend by adding “related service providers” after special education teachers in the
resolution.
Carried
Remote: 576 yes; 39 no
In-person: 242 yes; 5 no
Totals: 818 yes; 44 no
Motion: As amended:
SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL TIME FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND RELATED
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO WORK ON IEPS
WHEREAS, special education teachers and related service providers are responsible for creating
and maintaining IEPs which requires detailed, individualized progress monitoring to ensure that
students with disabilities receive appropriate support and accommodations; and
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Page 7 – 1/15/2025
WHEREAS, the process of writing, reviewing and revising IEPs is time-consuming and involves
collaboration with parents, general education teachers and other specialists, requiring significant
attention and focus; and
WHEREAS, many special education teachers and related service providers are already managing
heavy caseloads, balancing teaching responsibilities, lesson planning, specially designed
instruction, behavioral management and other administrative tasks, leaving limited time to
complete IEP -related work during the school day; and
WHEREAS, research shows that providing teachers with dedicated time for writing IEPs can
improve the quality of the IEPs, ensure better outcomes for students with disabilities, and reduce
teacher burnout, which ultimately enhances job satisfaction and retention of special education
teachers and related service providers, and area experiencing significant staffing shortages; and
WHEREAS, while special education teachers and related service providers can use the Other
Professional Work time to complete this work, this time is often needed to collaborate with teacher
teams for co-planning and not all schools have a schedule with Other Professional Work time;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the UFT work to achieve an agreement with the DOE that special education
teachers and related service providers be permitted to select the professional assignment of
“perform student assessment activities (including IEPs)” and that this choice will be honored if
selected; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the UFT will continue to fight for additional time during the school day for special
education teachers and related service providers to work on IEPs to ensure that students with
disabilities receive the best possible educational experience and so that teachers can fulfill their
professional responsibilities effectively.
Carried
Remote: 680 yes; 26 no
In-person: 256 yes; 2 no
Totals: 936 yes; 28 no
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
LeRoy Barr
Secretary