How is FCPS teacher/staff shortage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need some drastic moves recruit and retain high quality teachers. One bold move would be to go to a 4-day school week for kids. Increase T-F by 30 minutes. Kids do async work on Monday’s. Teachers plan, have pd on Monday’s. That means less time away from kids T-F. There are other models to accomplish this.

Parents will have to decide whether they want 5 days of school with a crappy, unqualified teacher in a large class or figure out childcare one day a week and get a high quality teacher in a decent sized class.

https://www.edsurge.com/amp/news/2022-06-22-can-four-day-school-weeks-keep-teachers-from-leaving

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/19/texas-schools-four-day-weeks/amp/

I’m in full support of a 4-day in-person week with Monday planning time for teachers while students use digital tools. I know for a fact this would be a huge boost for retention and the well-being of our staff

OMG. I hope this is a joke. I"m here for the kids, not the teachers.

"Digital tools" are garbage. Virtual school was a no-learning disaster and you want to cut out 20% of the school year?

Actually, it would be easy to extend the instructional time over 4 days and allow a day of planning for teachers and an additional day of rest/recreation for students. I would imagine that the mental and physical health benefits would be worth it. The way school is currently operating is not working for many people.

You think you’re “sticking it to” middle and upper middle class suburban moms with cushy full time telecommute government jobs or stay at home parents with this 4 day school week stuff. In reality, those families will make adjustments and have a lot of resentment toward teachers as a result, while kids on the margins of society won’t do their “asynchronous work” at all and will just continue to fall behind.

Let me explain the reality: We’re in a crisis right now and need to figure out how to attract teachers to work here and to retain those that are already here. A 4-day week with students could make a real difference. You’re worried about what could happen to those students on the “margins of society.” Those would be kids who typically go to Title 1 schools. Right NOW, these are the schools that literally have classrooms without teachers. This week, there are 14 schools with 6-10 teacher vacancies at elementary schools. TEN of those 14 are Title 1 schools. (Yes, there’s a list.)

So if I have the choice between 4-days of instruction for every kid with a qualified teacher that was excited to work/stay in FCPS because of the 4-day teaching schedule vs 5 days with a class staffed with a teacher whose best qualifications are that they are breathing and haven’t hurt a child, I’ll take the former. That will be better for those kids on the “margins of society” that I serve.

-Administrator in a Title 1 ES

Two teachers here, both ES. Why would we be excited about 4 days of instruction vs 5? Please explain the benefit. I’m reminded of early release Mondays. They were often filled up with meetings. The same will happen with full day on Monday and anything I might get done that day will probably have to be tweaked by mid-week.

I currently get 300 minutes a week for planning (an hour each day). 120 of those are spent in not-so-worthwhile CT meetings, after which I find I still have to plan and gather materials. Give me those 300 minutes, or at minimum 240, unencumbered so during the school day I can get done some of what I need to get done.

I’ll be curious to know how much time we will be given before the students return. Out of 6 contract days it looks like 2 are listed as TW days, one of which can be used to complete MyPDE trainings and the other is scheduled for Open House. Add in all the BOY tasks and conferences with families prior to Open House prior to BTSN and we’re already behind by the second week of September.

I think going down to 1 CLT or 0 CLT is the answer. Teams will meet anyways. Imagine how much more would get done!

Yes way too many CLT meetings.... especially if you are SPED or ESOL and required go to each grade level you work with.

LEMENTARY TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS (Grades K-6)
Elementary teachers engaged in the responsibilities associated with their position on a full- time basis shall be allowed 300 minutes of planning time per week or 600 minutes over a 2-week period. Within that time, a minimum of 60 minutes of collaborative planning time and 240 minutes of teacher-directed planning times per week or 120 minutes of collaborative planning time and 480 minutes of teacher-directed planning times over a 2- week period will be provided.
Classroom planning time is provided during art, physical education, music, and/or other instructional programming. Other certified personnel without direct classroom responsibilities may also be assigned in a manner that provides planning time. Such assignments may only exceed 10 hours per week per position with the approval of the region assistant superintendent.

OTHER CERTIFIED INSTRUCTIONAL EMPLOYEES (SPECIALISTS)
Where other instructional employees are utilized to facilitate the planning time of classroom teachers, program managers will make all appropriate efforts to ensure planning time for the other certified instructional employees and extra duties and responsibilities will be appropriately adjusted. Employees in this category include, but are not limited to advanced academic resource teacher; art; counselors; librarian; math specialist; music; physical education; school-based technology specialist; science lab; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); and world languages.

Regulation 4422.11

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/BR9JS84E8A87/$file/R4422.11.pdf

That is the issue. Many schools are requiring two CLTS (120) mins each week. They should only be requiring 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need some drastic moves recruit and retain high quality teachers. One bold move would be to go to a 4-day school week for kids. Increase T-F by 30 minutes. Kids do async work on Monday’s. Teachers plan, have pd on Monday’s. That means less time away from kids T-F. There are other models to accomplish this.

Parents will have to decide whether they want 5 days of school with a crappy, unqualified teacher in a large class or figure out childcare one day a week and get a high quality teacher in a decent sized class.

https://www.edsurge.com/amp/news/2022-06-22-can-four-day-school-weeks-keep-teachers-from-leaving

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/19/texas-schools-four-day-weeks/amp/

I’m in full support of a 4-day in-person week with Monday planning time for teachers while students use digital tools. I know for a fact this would be a huge boost for retention and the well-being of our staff

OMG. I hope this is a joke. I"m here for the kids, not the teachers.

"Digital tools" are garbage. Virtual school was a no-learning disaster and you want to cut out 20% of the school year?

Actually, it would be easy to extend the instructional time over 4 days and allow a day of planning for teachers and an additional day of rest/recreation for students. I would imagine that the mental and physical health benefits would be worth it. The way school is currently operating is not working for many people.

You think you’re “sticking it to” middle and upper middle class suburban moms with cushy full time telecommute government jobs or stay at home parents with this 4 day school week stuff. In reality, those families will make adjustments and have a lot of resentment toward teachers as a result, while kids on the margins of society won’t do their “asynchronous work” at all and will just continue to fall behind.

Let me explain the reality: We’re in a crisis right now and need to figure out how to attract teachers to work here and to retain those that are already here. A 4-day week with students could make a real difference. You’re worried about what could happen to those students on the “margins of society.” Those would be kids who typically go to Title 1 schools. Right NOW, these are the schools that literally have classrooms without teachers. This week, there are 14 schools with 6-10 teacher vacancies at elementary schools. TEN of those 14 are Title 1 schools. (Yes, there’s a list.)

So if I have the choice between 4-days of instruction for every kid with a qualified teacher that was excited to work/stay in FCPS because of the 4-day teaching schedule vs 5 days with a class staffed with a teacher whose best qualifications are that they are breathing and haven’t hurt a child, I’ll take the former. That will be better for those kids on the “margins of society” that I serve.

-Administrator in a Title 1 ES

Two teachers here, both ES. Why would we be excited about 4 days of instruction vs 5? Please explain the benefit. I’m reminded of early release Mondays. They were often filled up with meetings. The same will happen with full day on Monday and anything I might get done that day will probably have to be tweaked by mid-week.

I currently get 300 minutes a week for planning (an hour each day). 120 of those are spent in not-so-worthwhile CT meetings, after which I find I still have to plan and gather materials. Give me those 300 minutes, or at minimum 240, unencumbered so during the school day I can get done some of what I need to get done.

I’ll be curious to know how much time we will be given before the students return. Out of 6 contract days it looks like 2 are listed as TW days, one of which can be used to complete MyPDE trainings and the other is scheduled for Open House. Add in all the BOY tasks and conferences with families prior to Open House prior to BTSN and we’re already behind by the second week of September.

I think going down to 1 CLT or 0 CLT is the answer. Teams will meet anyways. Imagine how much more would get done!

Yes way too many CLT meetings.... especially if you are SPED or ESOL and required go to each grade level you work with.

LEMENTARY TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS (Grades K-6)
Elementary teachers engaged in the responsibilities associated with their position on a full- time basis shall be allowed 300 minutes of planning time per week or 600 minutes over a 2-week period. Within that time, a minimum of 60 minutes of collaborative planning time and 240 minutes of teacher-directed planning times per week or 120 minutes of collaborative planning time and 480 minutes of teacher-directed planning times over a 2- week period will be provided.
Classroom planning time is provided during art, physical education, music, and/or other instructional programming. Other certified personnel without direct classroom responsibilities may also be assigned in a manner that provides planning time. Such assignments may only exceed 10 hours per week per position with the approval of the region assistant superintendent.

OTHER CERTIFIED INSTRUCTIONAL EMPLOYEES (SPECIALISTS)
Where other instructional employees are utilized to facilitate the planning time of classroom teachers, program managers will make all appropriate efforts to ensure planning time for the other certified instructional employees and extra duties and responsibilities will be appropriately adjusted. Employees in this category include, but are not limited to advanced academic resource teacher; art; counselors; librarian; math specialist; music; physical education; school-based technology specialist; science lab; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); and world languages.

Regulation 4422.11

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/BR9JS84E8A87/$file/R4422.11.pdf

That is the issue. Many schools are requiring two CLTS (120) mins each week. They should only be requiring 1.

Yes, I agree. IME though, principals tend to only reference board policies when they fit what they want. If the principal who posted earlier comes back (or any principal on this board), perhaps he/she can respond and address this policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need some drastic moves recruit and retain high quality teachers. One bold move would be to go to a 4-day school week for kids. Increase T-F by 30 minutes. Kids do async work on Monday’s. Teachers plan, have pd on Monday’s. That means less time away from kids T-F. There are other models to accomplish this.

Parents will have to decide whether they want 5 days of school with a crappy, unqualified teacher in a large class or figure out childcare one day a week and get a high quality teacher in a decent sized class.

https://www.edsurge.com/amp/news/2022-06-22-can-four-day-school-weeks-keep-teachers-from-leaving

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/19/texas-schools-four-day-weeks/amp/

They get away with it by saying half the meeting is “planning.” Which we all know doesn’t really happen….. Oops ran long again lambasting you about scores and best practices from 15 years ago!!!!

I’m in full support of a 4-day in-person week with Monday planning time for teachers while students use digital tools. I know for a fact this would be a huge boost for retention and the well-being of our staff

OMG. I hope this is a joke. I"m here for the kids, not the teachers.

"Digital tools" are garbage. Virtual school was a no-learning disaster and you want to cut out 20% of the school year?

Actually, it would be easy to extend the instructional time over 4 days and allow a day of planning for teachers and an additional day of rest/recreation for students. I would imagine that the mental and physical health benefits would be worth it. The way school is currently operating is not working for many people.

You think you’re “sticking it to” middle and upper middle class suburban moms with cushy full time telecommute government jobs or stay at home parents with this 4 day school week stuff. In reality, those families will make adjustments and have a lot of resentment toward teachers as a result, while kids on the margins of society won’t do their “asynchronous work” at all and will just continue to fall behind.

Let me explain the reality: We’re in a crisis right now and need to figure out how to attract teachers to work here and to retain those that are already here. A 4-day week with students could make a real difference. You’re worried about what could happen to those students on the “margins of society.” Those would be kids who typically go to Title 1 schools. Right NOW, these are the schools that literally have classrooms without teachers. This week, there are 14 schools with 6-10 teacher vacancies at elementary schools. TEN of those 14 are Title 1 schools. (Yes, there’s a list.)

So if I have the choice between 4-days of instruction for every kid with a qualified teacher that was excited to work/stay in FCPS because of the 4-day teaching schedule vs 5 days with a class staffed with a teacher whose best qualifications are that they are breathing and haven’t hurt a child, I’ll take the former. That will be better for those kids on the “margins of society” that I serve.

-Administrator in a Title 1 ES

Two teachers here, both ES. Why would we be excited about 4 days of instruction vs 5? Please explain the benefit. I’m reminded of early release Mondays. They were often filled up with meetings. The same will happen with full day on Monday and anything I might get done that day will probably have to be tweaked by mid-week.

I currently get 300 minutes a week for planning (an hour each day). 120 of those are spent in not-so-worthwhile CT meetings, after which I find I still have to plan and gather materials. Give me those 300 minutes, or at minimum 240, unencumbered so during the school day I can get done some of what I need to get done.

I’ll be curious to know how much time we will be given before the students return. Out of 6 contract days it looks like 2 are listed as TW days, one of which can be used to complete MyPDE trainings and the other is scheduled for Open House. Add in all the BOY tasks and conferences with families prior to Open House prior to BTSN and we’re already behind by the second week of September.

I think going down to 1 CLT or 0 CLT is the answer. Teams will meet anyways. Imagine how much more would get done!

Yes way too many CLT meetings.... especially if you are SPED or ESOL and required go to each grade level you work with.

LEMENTARY TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS (Grades K-6)
Elementary teachers engaged in the responsibilities associated with their position on a full- time basis shall be allowed 300 minutes of planning time per week or 600 minutes over a 2-week period. Within that time, a minimum of 60 minutes of collaborative planning time and 240 minutes of teacher-directed planning times per week or 120 minutes of collaborative planning time and 480 minutes of teacher-directed planning times over a 2- week period will be provided.
Classroom planning time is provided during art, physical education, music, and/or other instructional programming. Other certified personnel without direct classroom responsibilities may also be assigned in a manner that provides planning time. Such assignments may only exceed 10 hours per week per position with the approval of the region assistant superintendent.

OTHER CERTIFIED INSTRUCTIONAL EMPLOYEES (SPECIALISTS)
Where other instructional employees are utilized to facilitate the planning time of classroom teachers, program managers will make all appropriate efforts to ensure planning time for the other certified instructional employees and extra duties and responsibilities will be appropriately adjusted. Employees in this category include, but are not limited to advanced academic resource teacher; art; counselors; librarian; math specialist; music; physical education; school-based technology specialist; science lab; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); and world languages.

Regulation 4422.11

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/BR9JS84E8A87/$file/R4422.11.pdf

That is the issue. Many schools are requiring two CLTS (120) mins each week. They should only be requiring 1.

Yes, I agree. IME though, principals tend to only reference board policies when they fit what they want. If the principal who posted earlier comes back (or any principal on this board), perhaps he/she can respond and address this policy.

[Anonymous]

Sorry don’t know where my comment went above.

They get away with it by saying half of the CLT meetings are planning…. It never happens.

They always run over lambasting us about scores or “training” us in 15 year old “best practices.”

Or, you literally training the coach in what your grade level should be doing.

THey need to go and many teachers would be much much happier. The job may be manageable then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry don’t know where my comment went above.

They get away with it by saying half of the CLT meetings are planning…. It never happens.

They always run over lambasting us about scores or “training” us in 15 year old “best practices.”

Or, you literally training the coach in what your grade level should be doing.

THey need to go and many teachers would be much much happier. The job may be manageable then.

When in a CLT, I rarely say, “that was productive, I'm all set for next week (minus photocopying).” But when I have time independently or working on plans with my team (not a CLT led by an instructional coach), I have said it significantly more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The four days a week of instruction we had the whole year of covid resulted in kids being very, very, very behind.

You do realize that most of that was online. Elementary students didn’t come back into the building until March. Even then, it was only 2 days a week. And some never came in until this past school year. You cannot compare that to 4 days in person.

NP. Yes, it was horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If was 4 day a week and you could plan from home that would be great.

How would you plan from home when you need the photocopy machine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry don’t know where my comment went above.

They get away with it by saying half of the CLT meetings are planning…. It never happens.

They always run over lambasting us about scores or “training” us in 15 year old “best practices.”

Or, you literally training the coach in what your grade level should be doing.

THey need to go and many teachers would be much much happier. The job may be manageable then.

When in a CLT, I rarely say, “that was productive, I'm all set for next week (minus photocopying).” But when I have time independently or working on plans with my team (not a CLT led by an instructional coach), I have said it significantly more.

+1
Prior to the meeting it’s, “Ugh. We have our CLT meeting today”.

We really don’t need to spend the first 10 minutes of every meeting on a grounding topic. This past year our CTs fell right before our science block. How many times did I scrap the science lesson or did it half a$$ed because I couldn’t prepare the materials while the students were in specials? Oh, the team wants to discuss that science or social studies PBL? Nope, not allowed during the CLT meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry don’t know where my comment went above.

They get away with it by saying half of the CLT meetings are planning…. It never happens.

They always run over lambasting us about scores or “training” us in 15 year old “best practices.”

Or, you literally training the coach in what your grade level should be doing.

THey need to go and many teachers would be much much happier. The job may be manageable then.

When in a CLT, I rarely say, “that was productive, I'm all set for next week (minus photocopying).” But when I have time independently or working on plans with my team (not a CLT led by an instructional coach), I have said it significantly more.

+1
Prior to the meeting it’s, “Ugh. We have our CLT meeting today”.

We really don’t need to spend the first 10 minutes of every meeting on a grounding topic. This past year our CTs fell right before our science block. How many times did I scrap the science lesson or did it half a$$ed because I couldn’t prepare the materials while the students were in specials? Oh, the team wants to discuss that science or social studies PBL? Nope, not allowed during the CLT meeting.

OMG!! This was one of my biggest pet peeves, not being allowed to plan for (or even mention) social studies or science in CLTs. We actually ended a CLT 10 minutes early one time (shocker!), and I asked if we could discuss social studies. The answer was no. It is wild.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry don’t know where my comment went above.

They get away with it by saying half of the CLT meetings are planning…. It never happens.

They always run over lambasting us about scores or “training” us in 15 year old “best practices.”

Or, you literally training the coach in what your grade level should be doing.

THey need to go and many teachers would be much much happier. The job may be manageable then.

When in a CLT, I rarely say, “that was productive, I'm all set for next week (minus photocopying).” But when I have time independently or working on plans with my team (not a CLT led by an instructional coach), I have said it significantly more.

+1
Prior to the meeting it’s, “Ugh. We have our CLT meeting today”.

We really don’t need to spend the first 10 minutes of every meeting on a grounding topic. This past year our CTs fell right before our science block. How many times did I scrap the science lesson or did it half a$$ed because I couldn’t prepare the materials while the students were in specials? Oh, the team wants to discuss that science or social studies PBL? Nope, not allowed during the CLT meeting.

OMG!! This was one of my biggest pet peeves, not being allowed to plan for (or even mention) social studies or science in CLTs. We actually ended a CLT 10 minutes early one time (shocker!), and I asked if we could discuss social studies. The answer was no. It is wild.

Also let's focus on what what was said about feeling half assed with lessons the rest of the day. Teaching is exhausting enough. It's not like desk jobs where you go back to your office after a long winded meeting and focus solely on your work...you have children with needs and many other tasks waiting for you. The planning and teaching always gets overlooked due to lack of planning and time. Teachers have been saying this for years!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry don’t know where my comment went above.

They get away with it by saying half of the CLT meetings are planning…. It never happens.

They always run over lambasting us about scores or “training” us in 15 year old “best practices.”

Or, you literally training the coach in what your grade level should be doing.

THey need to go and many teachers would be much much happier. The job may be manageable then.

When in a CLT, I rarely say, “that was productive, I'm all set for next week (minus photocopying).” But when I have time independently or working on plans with my team (not a CLT led by an instructional coach), I have said it significantly more.

+1
Prior to the meeting it’s, “Ugh. We have our CLT meeting today”.

We really don’t need to spend the first 10 minutes of every meeting on a grounding topic. This past year our CTs fell right before our science block. How many times did I scrap the science lesson or did it half a$$ed because I couldn’t prepare the materials while the students were in specials? Oh, the team wants to discuss that science or social studies PBL? Nope, not allowed during the CLT meeting.

OMG!! This was one of my biggest pet peeves, not being allowed to plan for (or even mention) social studies or science in CLTs. We actually ended a CLT 10 minutes early one time (shocker!), and I asked if we could discuss social studies. The answer was no. It is wild.

Also let's focus on what what was said about feeling half assed with lessons the rest of the day. Teaching is exhausting enough. It's not like desk jobs where you go back to your office after a long winded meeting and focus solely on your work...you have children with needs and many other tasks waiting for you. The planning and teaching always gets overlooked due to lack of planning and time. Teachers have been saying this for years!

+1,000,000. Teaching is a fun job in many ways, but this is truly what is leading the exodus. The constant pressure laden meetings and then “showtime” when you can’t prepare for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry don’t know where my comment went above.

They get away with it by saying half of the CLT meetings are planning…. It never happens.

They always run over lambasting us about scores or “training” us in 15 year old “best practices.”

Or, you literally training the coach in what your grade level should be doing.

THey need to go and many teachers would be much much happier. The job may be manageable then.

When in a CLT, I rarely say, “that was productive, I'm all set for next week (minus photocopying).” But when I have time independently or working on plans with my team (not a CLT led by an instructional coach), I have said it significantly more.

+1
Prior to the meeting it’s, “Ugh. We have our CLT meeting today”.

We really don’t need to spend the first 10 minutes of every meeting on a grounding topic. This past year our CTs fell right before our science block. How many times did I scrap the science lesson or did it half a$$ed because I couldn’t prepare the materials while the students were in specials? Oh, the team wants to discuss that science or social studies PBL? Nope, not allowed during the CLT meeting.

OMG!! This was one of my biggest pet peeves, not being allowed to plan for (or even mention) social studies or science in CLTs. We actually ended a CLT 10 minutes early one time (shocker!), and I asked if we could discuss social studies. The answer was no. It is wild.

Also let's focus on what what was said about feeling half assed with lessons the rest of the day. Teaching is exhausting enough. It's not like desk jobs where you go back to your office after a long winded meeting and focus solely on your work...you have children with needs and many other tasks waiting for you. The planning and teaching always gets overlooked due to lack of planning and time. Teachers have been saying this for years!

+1,000,000. Teaching is a fun job in many ways, but this is truly what is leading the exodus. The constant pressure laden meetings and then “showtime” when you can’t prepare for it.

Admin for some reason is convinced they are valuable. If we miss one because it falls on a snow day, or some other day off, we have to schedule a make up day the following week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need some drastic moves recruit and retain high quality teachers. One bold move would be to go to a 4-day school week for kids. Increase T-F by 30 minutes. Kids do async work on Monday’s. Teachers plan, have pd on Monday’s. That means less time away from kids T-F. There are other models to accomplish this.

Parents will have to decide whether they want 5 days of school with a crappy, unqualified teacher in a large class or figure out childcare one day a week and get a high quality teacher in a decent sized class.

https://www.edsurge.com/amp/news/2022-06-22-can-four-day-school-weeks-keep-teachers-from-leaving

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/19/texas-schools-four-day-weeks/amp/

I’m in full support of a 4-day in-person week with Monday planning time for teachers while students use digital tools. I know for a fact this would be a huge boost for retention and the well-being of our staff

OMG. I hope this is a joke. I"m here for the kids, not the teachers.

"Digital tools" are garbage. Virtual school was a no-learning disaster and you want to cut out 20% of the school year?

Actually, it would be easy to extend the instructional time over 4 days and allow a day of planning for teachers and an additional day of rest/recreation for students. I would imagine that the mental and physical health benefits would be worth it. The way school is currently operating is not working for many people.

You think you’re “sticking it to” middle and upper middle class suburban moms with cushy full time telecommute government jobs or stay at home parents with this 4 day school week stuff. In reality, those families will make adjustments and have a lot of resentment toward teachers as a result, while kids on the margins of society won’t do their “asynchronous work” at all and will just continue to fall behind.

Let me explain the reality: We’re in a crisis right now and need to figure out how to attract teachers to work here and to retain those that are already here. A 4-day week with students could make a real difference. You’re worried about what could happen to those students on the “margins of society.” Those would be kids who typically go to Title 1 schools. Right NOW, these are the schools that literally have classrooms without teachers. This week, there are 14 schools with 6-10 teacher vacancies at elementary schools. TEN of those 14 are Title 1 schools. (Yes, there’s a list.)

So if I have the choice between 4-days of instruction for every kid with a qualified teacher that was excited to work/stay in FCPS because of the 4-day teaching schedule vs 5 days with a class staffed with a teacher whose best qualifications are that they are breathing and haven’t hurt a child, I’ll take the former. That will be better for those kids on the “margins of society” that I serve.

-Administrator in a Title 1 ES

Two teachers here, both ES. Why would we be excited about 4 days of instruction vs 5? Please explain the benefit. I’m reminded of early release Mondays. They were often filled up with meetings. The same will happen with full day on Monday and anything I might get done that day will probably have to be tweaked by mid-week.

I currently get 300 minutes a week for planning (an hour each day). 120 of those are spent in not-so-worthwhile CT meetings, after which I find I still have to plan and gather materials. Give me those 300 minutes, or at minimum 240, unencumbered so during the school day I can get done some of what I need to get done.

I’ll be curious to know how much time we will be given before the students return. Out of 6 contract days it looks like 2 are listed as TW days, one of which can be used to complete MyPDE trainings and the other is scheduled for Open House. Add in all the BOY tasks and conferences with families prior to Open House prior to BTSN and we’re already behind by the second week of September.

I think going down to 1 CLT or 0 CLT is the answer. Teams will meet anyways. Imagine how much more would get done!

Yes way too many CLT meetings.... especially if you are SPED or ESOL and required go to each grade level you work with.

LEMENTARY TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS (Grades K-6)
Elementary teachers engaged in the responsibilities associated with their position on a full- time basis shall be allowed 300 minutes of planning time per week or 600 minutes over a 2-week period. Within that time, a minimum of 60 minutes of collaborative planning time and 240 minutes of teacher-directed planning times per week or 120 minutes of collaborative planning time and 480 minutes of teacher-directed planning times over a 2- week period will be provided.
Classroom planning time is provided during art, physical education, music, and/or other instructional programming. Other certified personnel without direct classroom responsibilities may also be assigned in a manner that provides planning time. Such assignments may only exceed 10 hours per week per position with the approval of the region assistant superintendent.

OTHER CERTIFIED INSTRUCTIONAL EMPLOYEES (SPECIALISTS)
Where other instructional employees are utilized to facilitate the planning time of classroom teachers, program managers will make all appropriate efforts to ensure planning time for the other certified instructional employees and extra duties and responsibilities will be appropriately adjusted. Employees in this category include, but are not limited to advanced academic resource teacher; art; counselors; librarian; math specialist; music; physical education; school-based technology specialist; science lab; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); and world languages.

Regulation 4422.11

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/BR9JS84E8A87/$file/R4422.11.pdf

That is the issue. Many schools are requiring two CLTS (120) mins each week. They should only be requiring 1.

We need to gain collective bargaining so that this can be contractual and not just a SB policy that can be interpreted or ignored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If was 4 day a week and you could plan from home that would be great.

How would you plan from home when you need the photocopy machine?

DP- we got a small business printer. Or if I’m annoyed at using toner, I load up everything that needs to be printed in separate windows and then print immediately when I get to school in the morning.

[Anonymous]

One of my coworkers decided to leave right after they announced the COLA and step increase this year. She said the adjustment was ridiculously low given inflation and all the years without any increases before that.

I'm a new teacher married to a high earner so I don't feel it, but it seems like the gap between public sector and private sector wages is in fact increasing at a rapid clip. I have no idea how I would make ends meet in this area on my salary alone.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/08/01/public-sector-wages-inflation/