Our school calendar for the 2008 – 2009 school year will include time for teachers to collaborate about instruction, assessment, and curriculum on a regular basis. Educational research clearly indicates that job embedded professional development for teams of teachers results in improvement of student achievement. High performing school districts within Massachusetts and across the nation that have had this kind of school calendar demonstrates the success of this practice.

We are proposing to move forward with a weekly 90-minute block of time on Wednesdays beginning the last week in September and ending the first week in May, except for weeks when there are other holidays or days off. There will be no full day professional development days in our school calendar. Lunch will be served to students on these days. Our Before and After School Program is working out an opportunity for parents of elementary students to have in school coverage during this time for a small fee. The questions below ask for your opinion on how to best schedule this time for our teachers to collaborate.

We ask you to complete the survey by March 28, 2008. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with our school district. Your feedback is very important to us.