New York City Department of Education Changes Licenses

The NYC Department of Education sent the following message on friday:

Dear Colleague:

Effective November 1, 2016, in order to better align with New York State Education Department Certification levels, your New York City teaching license has been broad-banded to apply to all secondary grades. This change is being made in accordance with an agreement between the United Federation of Teachers and the NYC Department of Education.

If you are currently a licensed teacher of Social Studies for Day High School, the following will apply:

·        Effective 11/1/2016, your current license code will remain the same, but that license has now been expanded to apply to all secondary grades:  “Social Studies (Secondary)”. There will be no change to your seniority, completion of probation status, or other conditions of employment.

If you are currently a licensed teacher of Social Studies for Junior High School, the following will apply:

·        Effective 11/1/2016, your license will be changed to “Social Studies (Secondary)”.  This change will be retroactive to the date of your appointment in the Junior High School license. There will be no change to your seniority, completion of probation status, or other conditions of employment.

If you are currently a licensed Bilingual or Students with Disabilities (SWD) teacher of Social Studies, the following will apply:

·        Effective 11/1/2016, your license will be changed to the corresponding Bilingual or SWD Social Studies (Secondary) license as opposed to a license only for high school or junior high school. There will be no change to your seniority, completion of probation status, or other conditions of employment.

This license change will have no immediate impact on your assignment. However, as you progress in your career it may expand your opportunities to work with students in different grades and/or to consider broader transfer opportunities. Please know that the City license and corresponding grade bands does not supersede any grade limitations from your State certificate. Further, this license change has no effect on excessing or other personnel decisions made prior to the date of the change.

Questions regarding the above may be directed to your UFT chapter leader or borough office, HR Connect during regular business hours, at (718) 935-4000, or via email at licensechange2016@schools.nyc.gov.

Yours truly,

NYCDOE Division of Human Resources