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DHBE-AP Teacher Preparation Time

Purpose

To establish clear, consistent expectations for educator time dedicated to teacher-directed preparation, professional learning communities (PLCs), and collaborative planning. This policy supports educator effectiveness and promotes alignment across all PreK–12 buildings in West Fargo Public Schools.

Definitions

Teacher-Directed Preparation Time (Prep Time): Individual time during the contract day for instructional tasks such as lesson planning, grading, documentation, paperwork, and communication. Additional responsibilities fall under this category if they are defined by the role but scheduled by the individual. This allotted time is self-directed by the educator. This might not be the same block of time each day.

​​​​​Professional Learning Communities (PLCs): Teams of educators committed to working collaboratively in ongoing processes of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the learners they serve.

Common Planning Time: Teams of educators committed to working collaboratively in ongoing processes to thoughtfully plan the best instructional strategies to support learner success. (i.e.: academy connect, building committees, department meetings, grade level teams, etc.) 

Prep time is distinct from PLCs & Common Planning and not interchangeable.

Minimum Weekly Time Allocations

Each full-time PreK–12 educator will receive the following during a five-day week:

  • Prep Time: Minimum of 225 minutes per week (average of 45 minutes/day).
  • PLC Time: 50 minutes per week
  • Common Planning Time: 45 minutes per week.

Time structures may vary by building, but the minimum allocations must be preserved.

Adjustments will be made proportionately for short weeks.

Implementation Guidelines

  1. Scheduling
  • Principals will schedule prep, PLCs, and common planning time within the contract day.
  • Principals have the authority to adjust the time of day for prep, PLC and common planning time to accommodate IEP meetings, shortened weeks, or other scheduling conflicts.
  • Every educator must be assigned to a PLC team (minimum two members).
  1. Lost Prep Time
  • Educators directed by administration to give up prep time for supervision or other duties are eligible for compensation.
  • The missed prep time must be logged by the educator according to the identified procedure, approved by the principal, and submitted for pay within five business days of the last day of the week.
  • Unassigned additional time during the contract day may be used to recover lost prep when applicable.
  • Educators may voluntarily take on roles that provide compensation (21CCLC, leadership teams, committee meetings, etc.). In those instances, they have not lost prep time, but they will move their prep time outside of the regular contracted day.
  1. Support for Elementary (K–5) Scheduling
  • Principals may use strategies such as staggered paraprofessional schedules, library times, and designated IEP days to protect prep and common planning time.

Leadership and Training

  • PLC leaders will receive initial training and ongoing support throughout the year.
  • All educators will participate in professional learning on PLC expectations and best practices.

Monitoring and Review

  • Building administrators are responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy.
  • The District Policy Committee, comprised of the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendents, HR Director, Business Manager, and Communications Director, will review implementation and gather feedback at least once annually.
  • Legal review will be coordinated with the North Dakota School Boards Association.
  • The WFEA president will be consulted on proposed changes at least two weeks prior to release.

Time Allocations
  Elementary Core Elementary Encore Middle School Core Middle School Encore High School
Instructional Minutes 1500 1500 1285 1400 1450
PLC 50 50 50 50 50
Common Planning 45 NA 45 NA 45
Prep 225 225 225 225 225
Lunch 150 150 150 150 150
*Additional Time 380 380 595 470 430

 

*Additional time is comprised of time before and after school and during passing times within the school day.

High school instructional minutes including auxiliary assignment AND advisory/flex/WIN.

Middle school educational minutes including advisory and MASCOT time for CORE and advisory for Encore.5

 

 

Adopted: 06/27/23

Reviewed:   

Revised: 08/01/25