Preparation Time for Teachers as a Mandatory Subject of Collective Bargaining

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

• Teachers, particularly those who teach elementary school students, lack adequate time in the school day to prepare lesson plans and other duties important to effective teaching since the day is consumed with classroom teaching responsibilities. Elementary school teachers are generally limited to preparation time during art, music and physical education whereas middle and high school teachers have more flexibility to use non-classroom periods to prepare.
• With cuts to education programming due to revenue caps, teacher time is stretched tight as teachers serve in multiple capacities to meet the educational needs of children. As a result, teachers are left with little or no time in the day to prepare for classroom instruction and to meet the other demands on their time.
• The quality of our children's education suffers when teachers are not given enough time during the workday to prepare for the classroom.
• Teacher preparation time should be a mandatory subject of collective bargaining because it directly impacts the work hours of teachers. Otherwise, the only alternative for teachers is to spend time outside the academic day preparing lessons - time that is not compensated. This is in addition to the many hours teachers spend volunteering for various school-related activities, including small group tutoring and after-school clubs, and many other activities parents and children have come to expect.

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