Report Card Writing Time...

Yes, it's getting to be that time of year again - time to write report cards! Well, the good news is that this should be the last set of fall report cards, as a fall progress report replaces the fall report card in 2010 (see the previous blog post about report cards in the right hand margin).

This post is to remind you of the negotiated time that is available for writing report cards. Page 42 of the collective agreement includes a Letter of Understanding Re: Half Day Additional Time, which states that: "To provide additional time for planning, marking, preparation of report cards and such, the parties agree that the number of student contact days for teachers shall continue to be reduced by one-half day. The use of this one-half (1/2) day shall be determined by the teacher and be scheduled in agreement with the principal." This release time is available for all classroom teachers and prep coverage teachers, and any teaching portion of a SERT or Librarian assignment. Part time teachers, and SERTs/Librarians who teach part time, can pair up to share a half day.

Additionally, the June 4th, 2010, professional activity day will be a teacher-directed day for reporting purposes only. This means that staff meetings and promotion meetings cannot be held on this day. This time is solely for teachers to carry out the work associated with writing report cards. This provision is found on page 44 of the collective agreement, under section 2, "Release Time for Assessment, Evaluation and Report Cards". Beginning in 2010/2011, 2 PA days will be designated for the purpose of assessment and completion of report cards, prior to each of the two reporting periods (winter and June).