NYC Back to School: UFT says New York City needs 6-7K more teachers due to remote learning demands

Some NYC students to head back to class as in-person learning resumes

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
UFT says thousands more teachers needed to reopen safely
The UFT says they need 6,000 to 7,000 more teachers before middle and high schools reopen.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The Teachers' Union believes that New York City needs to hire 6,000 to 7,000 extra teachers.

The United Federation of Teachers says those are the numbers needed to open middle and high schools safely next week.

So far, the city has committed to hiring 4,500.

Albert Einstein School in the Bronx, reopens Wednesday after it had two cases of COVID-19 within a week.

In the city, 14 schools are reporting at least one confirmed case of the virus between last Friday and Monday.

Officials say 65 teachers have tested positive out of more than 19,000 who participated in testing.

Monday was the first day of school for the city's 1.1 million students either working remotely or in-person.

While more than one million students attended online, about 90,000 younger and special education students headed back to their classrooms for in-person learning.

CeFaan Kim has the latest on the first day of in-person learning for 90,000 New York City public school students.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said more teachers might be needed, but he couldn't give an exact number.

He said that's because parents continue opting their kids in and out of in-person learning, and some teachers are also opting out of in-person instruction.

There is a "real heavy emphasis on the cleaning, the ventilation, the PPE, any last minute problems being addressed really quickly, and then making sure the staffing is moved where it needs to be," de Blasio said.

NYC Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza shares updated information as the city's first day of school gets underway.

RELATED: Stay informed with ABC7's NYC COVID-19 positivity rate tracker

MORE INFO: NYC Department of Education

Here are the city's current back-to-school details:

On Monday, 3-K, Pre-K, and early education sites will open including District 75 for special education.

Children who are enrolled in fully remote programs will still begin full-day instruction.

Children in blended learning will be learning remotely until their in-person start date.

All Elementary Schools (K-5 and K-8) including students in Grades 6-8 in K-8 schools: In-Person Learning begins on Tuesday, September 29

Middle Schools (Grades 6-8): In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1

High Schools (Grades 9-12): In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1

Secondary Schools (Grades 6-12): In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1

Transfer Schools, Adult Education, Evening Schools: In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1

K-2 and K-3 Schools: In-Person Learning begins on Tuesday, September 29

Stay informed with ABC7's NYC COVID-19 positivity rate tracker

K-12 Schools:

Grades K-8: In-Person Learning begins on Tuesday, September 29

Grades 9-12: In-Person Learning begins on Thursday, October 1

Mayor Bill de Blasio outlines New York City's updated back-to-school plan.

RELATED: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut out-of-state travelers quarantine list

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE

Back to school information

How coronavirus changed the New York region

Do you have coronavirus symptoms?

What's Open, What's Closed in the Tri-State area

COVID-19 Help, Information. Stimulus and Business Updates

UPDATES

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New Jersey

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Westchester and Hudson Valley

Connecticut

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