Elementary Preparation and Enrichment Program: Overview

Teachers employed in the Elementary Preparation and Enrichment Program (referred to as enrichment teachers here for brevity) have two primary responsibilities:

• Delivering specialized enrichment lessons to students [8.6.5.6.], and
• Providing preparation time to classroom teachers. [8.6.1.]

The district employs content specialists as enrichment teachers assigned to specific sites or to the centralized VAPA department. While their schedules and days may differ, all credentialed teaching staff have the same rights and responsibilities, including supervisory duties [Section 8.6.5.2]. Enrichment teachers must have access to necessary teaching equipment and supplies, have an equitable amount of preparation time (including minimum days), and must be given priority consideration for workspace needs for the enrichment focus to be offered. [Sections 8.6.5.2., 8.6.5.3., 8.6.5.5.]

What has changed in the 2024-25 School year?

The contract says that beginning in 2024-25, all elementary school teachers must have a minimum of 180 minutes of preparation on a bi-weekly basis [See 8.6.4.3.] This applies to classroom teachers and to enrichment teachers. New Prop 28 funding has allowed the District to add VAPA teachers who can also provide prep. With these new changes, the District and SDEA negotiated a sideletter to clarify some ways to make sure prep time is equitable:

• Missed prep time (for example, due to holidays) needs to be made up as soon as possible but by the end of the school year at minimum.
• Using the contract formula (Appendix M) to allocate enrichment teachers, the Site Preparation and Enrichment Time Committee ensures that schedules fit each site’s needs, comply with contractual rights to prep time, and maximize enrichment instructional minutes. [1.2.]
• For the 2024-25 school year, VAPA teachers who are fully funded by Prop 28 will be considered multiple assignment teachers [See 12.1.8 in the contract.] If assigned at school sites, they will provide prep for classroom teachers. If assigned to the Central Office, they will also assist in other ways (material distribution, coverage, makeup, etc.) [See 3.1 in the sideletter.]
• The Joint District-SDEA Elementary Preparation and Enrichment Committee will meet to address concerns about elementary prep time and try to resolve them before filing grievances. This includes reviewing Appendix M to see if adjustments might be needed in the next contract.
• Note: In February 2025 an agreement was reached to use VTs to makeup missed prep time, and to do a schedule analysis for fully-staffed sites still struggling to schedule prep. [Read the full resolution.]

Everyone knows that the first year of these changes may bring complications and confusion, so it is extra important to stay in communication and leverage our collective voice to ensure these changes are implemented equitably.

FAQ:

• Click here to read answers to some frequently asked questions.