New York City school officials and the teachers’ union have reached an agreement allowing principals to hire school aides with money raised by parents’ groups.
The United Federation of Teachers previously had complained about the long-term practice. Parents say that the aides are needed because of overcrowding and that parent fundraising has helped keep middle-class families in urban public schools. But it also can make it harder for schools in poor neighborhoods to compete.
Under the agreement, the aides will not be union members. They will earn about $14 an hour, and be prohibited from performing any teaching work. The agreement expires at the end of the school year.