§18A-4-14a Study on daily planning periods.
§18A-4-14a. Study on daily planning periods.
(a) The legislative oversight commission on education accountability shall conduct a study of the length of time within the instructional day needed by teachers to plan. The commission may conduct the study as a whole or may appoint a subcommittee to conduct the study under its direction. The study shall include, but is not limited to, an examination of the following issues:
(1) The length of planning periods in different grade levels and under different class period schedules;
(2) A comparison of the amount and difficulty of the subject matter to be covered during the instructional day and the length of the planning period in different grade levels and under different class period schedules;
(3) An analysis of the appropriate use of planning period time and actual practices; and
(4) An analysis of the cost to the state and the counties of daily planning periods of different lengths and the potential for savings through appropriate measures for standardization.
(b) The legislative oversight commission on education accountability shall issue a report of its findings and recommendations, together with any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations, on or before the second day of January, two thousand three. In making its findings and recommendations, the commission shall:
(1) Consider measures for standardization in the length of planning periods for teachers in similar grade levels;
(2) Consider appropriate uses of any nonscheduled teacher time which becomes available if the standardization of planning period length results in planning periods which are less than the usual class period at a school, including, but not limited to, mentoring, tutoring, providing additional supervision, meetings and other noninstructional activities; and
(3) Consider adjustments or restructuring of the requirements for planning periods that do not result in any additional cost to the state or counties.