Archive: March 2006

Secondary Classroom Teacher Prep Time
During Statewide Standardized Testing
By Steve Kaplan, UniServe Field Organizer

The daily preparation time for secondary classroom teachers is set forth in Article 8, Section 8.7 of the contract. Historically, this preparation time has been problematic during the required State standardized testing period. SDEA filed a grievance in 2002 when teachers at two sites failed to receive their daily preparation time. On October 1, 2003 the grievance was resolved and the daily preparation time guaranteed in the contract was preserved. Below are the portions of the signed off agreement that control the testing
period for this and all other years.

"Principals shall schedule coverage during all future State standardized testing in such a way that secondary classroom teachers receive their regularly scheduled preparation time.

With the mutual consent of individual classroom teachers, the regularly scheduled preparation time may be provided at another time. Other mutually agreed upon compensation may be arranged. However, such compensation must be consistent with provisions of the Contract."

The key to the agreement is that any variation from your regularly scheduled preparation time requires your agreement. Such variation cannot be imposed by site administration nor can it result from a decision made by other
members of the staff. It is always best to have a mutually agreed upon variation reduced to writing.