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Background
Our great schools depend on the effectiveness of our teachers. Prepared teachers are effective teachers. Making teacher preparation time a mandatory subject of collective bargaining gives teachers an opportunity to negotiate for time built into the scheduled workday to make them most effective in the classroom.
Research shows that teacher planning makes a significant difference in student learning. When teachers meet to share instructional strategies that work in their classrooms and together design standards-based unit plans and assessments, this time is an effective use of taxpayer dollars, making a difference for children.
Legislative History
The Municipal Employment Relations Act provides that matters affecting wages, hours and conditions of employment are subject to collective bargaining.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that teacher preparation time is a permissive subject of bargaining because the court determined that preparation time is primarily related to educational policy rather than wages, hours, and conditions of employment (see Dodgeland Education Association v. WERC, 240 Wis.2d 287 (2002)). This decision remains the law of the state and no legislation has been passed to solve the problem of inadequate preparation time for teachers.
WEAC Position
The Wisconsin Education Association Council believes that teacher preparation time should be a mandatory subject of collective bargaining.
Talking Points
Additional Information
Contact Deb Sybell, WEAC Legislative Program Coordinator, at 800-362-8034 ext. 227 or by e- mail at sybelld@weac.org with any reactions, comments or questions.
Posted May 4, 2006