Some schools are having difficulty figuring out when to do baseline scoring and other work related to the evaluation and development system.

For this year only, because of the time constraints caused by Commissioner King’s ruling coming at the end of the last school year, the UFT and the DOE have agreed that a minimum of three hours per month during work time must be dedicated to this work.

Guidance for schools that have extended-day blocks of 150 minutes a week

These schools must utilize each week two 37.5-minute extended-day blocks or one 50-minute extended-day block or part of the 75-minute block for professional development and scoring.

The chapter leader and the principal have to agree which days will be used for professional development and scoring and which days will be for student intervention.

Schools that in the past used a portion of extended-day time for inquiry work through school-based option (SBO) votes will need to expand their work to include professional development on implementing the new evaluation system and scoring. Evaluation and development work should take precedence over inquiry work.

Schools that already have at least three hours of professional development per month as part of the existing school schedule (e.g., an approved calendar change) should review how the time is used and ensure that professional development on the evaluation system and scoring are properly incorporated.

Guidance for school communities that do not use extended-day periods

The following pertains to schools that have incorporated the extended-day time into the school day, multi-session schools or District 75 schools:

These schools can consider one or a combination of the following options. The chapter leader and the principal should meet to discuss the options and come to an agreement:

The use of faculty conference time and/or department/grade meeting time.

The use of Circular 6 as additional professional development time blocks (instead of other menu choices).

A calendar change request (to create blocks of time where students are dismissed and staff have time for professional development and scoring, whether half day, full day or shortened day during the week). A calendar change requires an SBO vote and PTA approval.