Let Us Teach!

Unity Takes Action: Making NYC Reads Work for Educators and Students

Karen Alford is the UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools

Unity Caucus has once again taken the lead. This time it’s about ensuring the DOE’s NYC Reads curriculum works for our children. To have our elementary students fully engaged in the science of reading, teachers needed changes. While we do not control what curriculum is provided by the employer, the DOE, we do have a voice as professionals and advocates for our students.

From across the city, we asked Chapter Leaders to send us their excessive paperwork that has been forced upon them since the implementation of the new curriculum. Over 500 spreadsheets were sent to us. You shared lists of missing materials, consultation minutes addressed school’s curriculum challenges, and during school visits you shared feedback that provided a narrative that required action. The NYC Reads roll-out would only achieve its mission if we helped shape it and made course corrections.

Only Unity could do this, and we were at the forefront. President Mulgrew, along with UFT officer Mary Vaccaro and myself, have demanded that the DOE listen to the teachers in our public schools and make a systemwide shift if they want to ensure success in our classrooms. This new policy that you received in December, signed by President Mulgrew (UFT), Chancellor Ramos (DOE) and President Rubio (CSA), came at the insistence and the advocacy of the UFT.

The vision of all the parties involved is that the curriculum works for our students to ensure that all of our students thrive. To achieve this, Unity addressed five critical points:

• Flexibility in pacing

• Simplifying data collection

• Streamlined assessments

• Time and flexibility in modifying curriculum and bridge classes

Michael Mulgrew’s team made sure each NYC elementary school teacher had this policy in hand immediately. To ensure the proper implementation and advise our members of their new rights, we offered two 1-hour sessions to help unpack the new policy.

This policy represents a significant step forward for many schools. However, in a system as vast as ours, challenges and less-than-ideal practices may still arise. What can we do? This is an opportunity for school teams to collaborate, identify what is needed to enhance instruction for both educators and students, and develop actionable plans. These plans should then be brought to the school’s consultation committee for discussion and implementation.

If challenges persist, your district representative is available to provide with guidance and support for your chapter. In some cases, filing an operational complaint may be necessary. Regardless of the path forward, we stand with you as we work together to implement this policy across our elementary schools.

Unity leads the way in driving system wide change. Our efforts let you teach and value you as professionals, so our students are able to reach their full potential.