Program Scheduling

Teacher Prep Period

During a typical five-day school week, full-time TCs/Teachers will be provided with three required Prep Periods per week of 45 minutes per period when students may or may not be present and/or when another professional is teaching the class for educators. Additionally, core content educators are scheduled for an extra Prep Period to co-plan with the Special Educator. These required Prep Periods are typically scheduled before or after the 5.5- hour instructional day, but may be scheduled during the instructional day pending resources and prior approval by management. 

The following steps are to be followed in scheduling the required Prep Periods outlined above:

1. At the start of the school year, the Supervisor (REC/AREC) will provide direction as to when TCs/Teachers assigned to a program are to schedule prep periods on the weekly site schedule.  

2. The TC/Teacher(s) will ensure these prep periods are included on their weekly site schedule submitted to the Supervisor (REC/AREC) upon submission of the site schedule.

3. The regional Supervisor will review and, if no changes are required, authorize.  

4. If changes are required, the Supervisor will request they be made and be resubmitted and/or make them and provide the TC/Teacher with said changes.

Making changes to the required scheduled Prep Periods 

The site schedule identifies periods during the week for “Non-Instructional Time (NIT).” Although NIT is not guaranteed, it is scheduled when possible and may be used as a default Prep Period when a regularly scheduled required Prep Period must be rescheduled. If a conflict exists for any reason that would preempt using a “Non-Instructional Time (NIT)”, the educator should contact their REC/AREC prior to missing a Prep Period, or as soon as is possible if the Prep Period has already been missed, to identify an alternate plan for rescheduling the missed Prep Period.  

If no alternate Prep Period can be scheduled with the impacted employees’ supervisors support, the Teacher or Teaching Coordinator will record it on their timesheet.

How do I record a missed Prep Period on my timesheet?

Teachers/TC’s should record under Supplemental Pay Code on their ADP timecard on the date in which the Prep Period was missed by choosing Prep Time from the drop down menu and entering “1” in the Enter Amount box. 

Are Instructional Coaching Sessions considered Prep Time?

If a teacher/TC invites an Instructional Coach to work with them during scheduled Prep Time, that would not require a rescheduling. However, there is no expectation that a teacher utilize Prep Time for Instructional Coaching, unless a supervisor requires it, which would require that the supervisor and the teacher identify an alternate prep period during that week.

As always, employees should communicate with their supervisor if there are challenges with Prep Time and we will work to resolve them.

Find the original Teacher Prep memo here.