Better Working and Learning Conditions:
s a new year begins, NYSUT remains steadfast in our goal of ensuring safe and healthy schools for all. We continue to push for improvements that help our students thrive and ensure that education professions remain enticing and sustainable career choices.
Good jobs and strong public schools are central to our values. Last year, with our members’ support, the state Legislature passed numerous bills to improve both educators’ working conditions AND students’ learning conditions. We achieved these victories by listening to you and bringing forward the issues that matter. And we’ll be back at it this year, taking what we know educators, students and communities need and making sure our lawmakers listen and act.
Here’s what we won together in 2024 that will have a real impact on learning and working conditions:
APPR REFORM

The onerous Annual Professional Performance Review regulations prioritized high-stakes testing over student growth and development, stifling the joy of teaching and learning.

We secured passage of a law to reform APPR. Through collaborative efforts with education advocates, this vital reform now returns teacher evaluations to local control, eliminating arbitrary performance metrics and allowing teachers to focus on creating engaging learning environments. Learn more at nyust.org/APPR.
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

Faculty and staff in our schools should have the same protections that other state employees enjoy, especially those who work with students with special needs and may be more prone to injuries.

NYSUT secured passage of S1746/A1120, amending labor law to ensure public schools are covered by the state’s Workplace Violence Prevention Act. After nearly a decade of advocacy, the bill became law in 2024. Schools must now evaluate violence risks, develop prevention programs, maintain incident records and keep staff training current. See page 4 for more details on the Workplace Violence Prevention Act.
TOILETING LEGISLATION

Our School-Related Professionals needed consistent statewide guidelines for toileting and diapering students. The existing patchwork of district-level procedures varied greatly and lacked proper training and support.

We championed bill S9147B/A9777B, requiring new statewide guidelines. After years of persistent advocacy by our SRPs, Gov. Hochul signed it into law, ensuring dignity and proper care for our most vulnerable students. See page 19 for more information.
REGULATING BIG TECH

Social media and addictive feeds are harming our children, robbing them of sleep and meaningful connections, affecting both learning and teaching.

We won passage of two groundbreaking laws: the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act. These first-in-the-nation bills protect children by banning addictive feeds and safeguarding minors’ personal data.
EXPANDED ACCESS TO FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Educators know that a full belly is essential to children being successful in the classroom. Put another way, hungry kids can’t learn.

Our advocacy secured two key changes: a lower USDA Community Eligibility Provision threshold and a $134.6 million state subsidy. Now 2.37 million children — 86 percent of New York students — receive free breakfast and lunch. We’ll continue pushing until all New York students have access to free school meals.
EXTREME HEAT IN SCHOOLS

Our schools become saunas in spring and fall, creating unsafe conditions that disrupt learning and teaching.

We advocated for bill S3397/A9011, dramatically demonstrating the problem with a portable sauna outside lawmakers’ offices and compiling an 80-page report of members’ experiences. The law now requires schools to implement heat management measures without mandating expensive HVAC upgrades.
… WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON NOW

DISTRACTION-FREE SCHOOLS

Personal electronics — especially cellphones — are impacting students’ ability to focus and engage in authentic learning in your classrooms.

WHAT NYSUT IS DOING:
We’re leading the push for statewide action. After our “Disconnected” conference, NYSUT built a powerful coalition of education, healthcare, child advocacy and law enforcement partners. Both lawmakers and the governor now support bell-to-bell cellphone restrictions in our schools.
Learn more at nysut.org/Disconnected.
ADDRESSING THE EFFECTS OF POVERTY

Nearly 700,000 New York children carry the “invisible backpack” of poverty, facing homelessness, health issues and lack of basic necessities. This affects learning and forces educators to address basic needs before teaching.

We launched the “1-in-5” campaign with child, family and community partners to confront childhood poverty. Our comprehensive approach addresses root causes, provides immediate support, and pushes for tax code changes to create a more equitable system. Learn more at 1in5ny.org.
These are just a few of the things NYSUT will be working on this year to support our members, your students and communities. Follow all of our ongoing advocacy efforts at nysut.org or on social media and track our shared wins at nysut.org/victories.
YOUR VOICE = CHANGE THAT WE ALL FEEL

- Sign up for the NYSUT Member Action Center: mac.nysut.org.
- Contribute to VOTE-COPE, our union’s voluntary, non-partisan advocacy fund. NYSUT member contributions help us advocate for our members’ rights and for strong, safe public schools across the state.
- Follow NYSUT on social media for the latest in actions and updates on critical issues.
- Ask your local leadership how you can get involved.
- Go to nysut.cc/getinvolved or use the QR code.