Southeast Comprehensive Assistance Center (SECAC) Resources

Note: These resources were produced by the Southeast Comprehensive Assistance Center, which was operated by SEDL from 1995-2005.

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Finding time for Staff Development: A Barrier to School Improvement

Following are strategies that educators across the country are using to find more time for school improvement activities.

Freed-up Time: Using various arrangements to free teachers from direct student supervision.
1. Enlisting administrators to teach classes
2. Teaming teachers, allowing one teacher to instruct for another
3. Engaging parents, members of business, or community volunteers to provide alternative activities or enrichment programs
4. Establishment of a team of experienced substitute teachers in order to release part of the faculty during the school day

Restructured or Rescheduled Time: Formally altering the time frame of the traditional calendar, school day, or teaching schedule.
1. "Early dismissal": the student day is shortened in order to provide time for staff development and related school improvement activities
2. "Non-teaching Days" when students do not report to school
3. "Late Arrival" of students
Common Time: Using common planning time to support restructuring programs, interdisciplinary teams, subject-area collaboration, and grade-level planning.
Better-Used Time: Using currently scheduled meetings and professional development activities more effectively by focusing on planning and collaboration.
1. Allocating all pre-opening workdays for teacher planning and preparation
2. Reducing/eliminating administrative affairs at faculty meetings through improved methods for communication, leadership rotation, use of a management council (Designate faculty meetings for talking, thinking, sharing, and reflecting on substantive issues. Use Memos and a teacher bulletin board with daily postings for information dissemination.)
3. Have single-issue faculty meetings moderated by an elected faculty member
4. Restricting time required for nonprofessional duties
Purchased Time: Hiring additional teachers, clerks, parents, and support staff to allow for smaller class sizes and/or expanded additional planning sessions.
1. Writing grant proposals to foundations or other funding agencies to secure monies to pay for early release time for the faculty to plan and prepare
2. Using district-allocated staff development or other funds to pay stipends to teachers for summer planning time
3. Negotiating bargaining agreements that provide extra-duty pay or compensation for evening/summer planning activities
4. Receiving "in-service" credits from the district for personal time devoted to the development of new programs

Source: Watts, G. D. & Castle, S. (1993). "The Time Dilemma in School Restructuring." Phi Delta Kappan, December 1993: 306-310.

Related Readings

Dalheim, Mary, Ed. Time Strategies. National Education Association, 1994.

Levine, Daniel U. "Creating Effective Schools: Findings and Implications >From Research and Practice." Phi Delta Kappan, January 1991: 389-392.

"Time: Squeeze, Carve, Apply, Target, Use, Arrange, For Adult Learning." Journal of Staff Development, Spring 1999: Thematic Issue. (Six Articles on Time)