Skip to main content

VOTE-COPE VICTORIES

Because of NYSUT members’ voluntary contributions to VOTE-COPE, these are just a few of the victories we’ve been able to achieve in the past couple years:

MAJOR FUNDING WINS

UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS

  • Expanded to ALL 2.7 million NY students in participating schools
  • Saves families an estimated $165/month per child
  • Means no child has to come to class hungry

BOCES & CTE FUNDING

  • Increased the BOCES instructor salary cap
  • Increases in Special Services Aid
  • 9th grade now included in Special Services Aid

FOUNDATION AID INCREASED

  • 43% increase in Foundation Aid over the past 5 years thanks to NYSUT advocacy.

INCREASES IN HIGHER EDUCATION OPERATING FUNDS

  • SUNY - $115.1 Million
  • CUNY - $147.5 Million
  • COMMUNITY COLLEGES - $21.3 Million

SAVED SUNY DOWNSTATE

SUNY & CUNY RECONNECT

  • Free community college for adults 25-55 in high-demand fields
  • Covers tuition, fees, books and supplies

HISTORIC POLICY VICTORIES

BELL-TO-BELL CELLPHONE RESTRICTIONS

  • New York became the largest state to enact a statewide bell-to-bell cellphone restrictions policy

FIRST-IN-THE-NATION SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY LAWS

  • SAFE for Kids Act
  • Child Data Protection Act
  • Social media warning labels law

AI OVERSIGHT

  • Ensures human oversight of AI is required in public services
  • Only state in the nation to introduce groundbreaking labor protections against AI threats

FIXES TO TIER 6

Lowered fi nal average salary calculation from 5 to 3 years. Means bigger pension checks for life.

TOILETING & DIAPERING REGULATIONS

Set uniform standards statewide

EXTREME HEAT LAW

First law in NYS establishing maximum temperatures in schools

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

Expanded to include schools

EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

Passage of the Equal Rights Amendment by New York voters.

FIXED APPR

  • Ended test-and-punish teacher evaluations
  • Returned evaluations to local control
  • No longer required to use student test scores

VICTORIES IN SCHOOL BUDGET & BOARD RACES

97%

of school budgets
PASSED

84%

of pro-public school candidates
WON

73

NYSUT MEMBERS
ELECTED
DOWNLOAD PDF Version

Because of VOTE-COPE

we get to fight for the things that matter to our students, educators and communities. We’re continuing to fight for:
  • Meaningful Tier 6 pension reforms.
  • Stronger investments in our public schools and colleges,.
  • Defend public education against privatization efforts.

Contribute to VOTE-COPE
Small Amounts Lead to Huge Results

VOTE-COPE is one of the best investments you can make in yourself, your family, your profession, your colleagues, your school and public education.
Contribute to VOTE-COPE today
Contribute to VOTE-COPE today

NYSUT members: contact your local union leader to find out how to give to VOTE-COPE.