Know your rights

Teacher programs

Apr 10, 2008 12:47 PM

Each spring (or each term in some high schools), you may request an assignment for the following school year (or term) on a preference sheet that your principal will hand out. Under the contract, you have the right to make your preference known and, when consistent with your school’s instructional needs, have it honored. On your preference sheet, you should list in priority order the subject and grade level you desire to teach.

If you are a special education teacher, you should place in priority order the range of special education classes you want, as well as the special education designation you want to teach.

If you don’t get your first choice of program for two consecutive years, you can file a reorganization grievance. Talk to your chapter leader.

Note that you must apply separately to your principal for cluster positions or compensatory time positions, which must be advertised by posting.

Here is information about teacher programs by level:

Elementary schools

Schools are programmed, generally, for either seven or eight periods per day. In seven-period schools, you are scheduled for a daily duty-free lunch period and five preparation periods per week. In eight-period schools, in addition to the daily duty-free lunch period and preparation period, you receive one professional period per week. Schools may use a school-based option (SBO) to change the number of periods in a day but principals cannot do so unilaterally. If you believe you have been given an incorrect assignment, speak to your chapter leader immediately about filing a grievance.

Middle or junior high schools

You should receive your teaching program no later than five school days before the end of the school year. Your teaching program must consist of a maximum of 25 teaching periods, five preparation periods, five professional periods and five duty-free lunch periods per week. Teachers hired before July 1, 1985, who have worked continually in a Title I school since that date must be programmed for 22 teaching periods, eight preparation periods, five professional periods and five duty-free lunch periods. If you think you qualify for the additional preparation periods, you should check with your chapter leader. Your chapter leader also can help you file a grievance if your teaching program does not follow contractual guidelines (e.g., more than three teaching periods in a row, four working assignments in a row, etc.).

High schools

You should receive your teaching program no later than the end of school on the next-to-last day of the term. Your teaching program must contain a maximum of 25 teaching periods, five preparation periods, five professional periods and five duty-free lunch periods. However, if you have a reduced teaching program (e.g., a compensatory-time position), you receive one preparation period for every five periods you teach. Speak to your chapter leader to file a grievance if your teaching program does not follow contractual guidelines (e.g., more than three teaching periods in a row, four working assignments in a row, etc.).