SEQUIM — School leaders have accepted an ambitious professional development plan for Sequim district employees that means more early releases and late starts on school days for students — and an intense education program for educators and education staff.
The plan, the leaders say, was developed as a response to demands imposed by state and federal requirements for student achievement.
Education reform means that teachers must master new ways of teaching, for example, but they generally don’t have the time — unless there’s a concerted effort to make the time available.
“Professional development can no longer be viewed as an event that occurs on a particular day of the school year,” states a report on the professional development plan.
“Rather, it must become part of the daily work life of educators.”
Affects 36 school days
The plan, adopted Monday night by the School Board, outlines a demanding schedule that affects 36 school days in the 2005-06 term.
It lists six early release days during the school year, all on Friday, with school starting 90 minutes later than normal almost every Monday from September to May.
That allows for 60 hours of professional development time, compared with about nine in the current school year.
The School Board adopted the plan with the condition that the details don’t conflict with collective bargaining agreements.
The plan will be in place for one school year and then evaluated.
