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Teacher Planning Bill Moves Forward

The Wise & Witty Teacher

The House Education Committee approved a bill on Tuesday (Feb. 18) requiring Kentucky school districts to give teachers a minimum of 120 minutes per week of planning time. The measure is supported by the Kentucky Education Association (KEA).

Stephanie Winkler is a fourth grade teacher in Madison County and president of the KEA.

“Teachers need time during the workday in their own work environment…not at home around the kitchen tables and their families to focus on their practice. Guaranteeing a minimum amount of unencumbered planning time for every fulltime teacher in Kentucky is a small but extremely important step toward improving student outcomes for this state.” –Stephanie Winkler

The Kentucky Association of School Superintendents opposes the bill. Wilson Sears is executive director of the organization.

Sears says decisions about planning time for teachers should be made at the local level…and a state law may tie the hands of school principals.

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“There is not just another day at the office. There is no such thing as a routine school day. Things happen in the school day that does require principal decisions. There could be a shortage of subs or a teacher emergency where a teacher must leave a building. That would not fit within the confines of this law.” –Wilson Sears

The bill now goes to the full House.

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