NCREL's Policy Briefs

Professional Development: Changing Times

Wisconsin

Contact People:
Peter Burke
Director
Bureau for Teacher Education, Licensing, and Placement
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
125 S. Webster St.
Madison, WI 53707

Ken Rogers
Director of Instructional Services/NWECS/Westwing
Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) #12
618 Beaser Ave.
Ashland, WI 54806

Issues and Agenda

In general, teachers need time for staff/professional development, especially to learn about new initiatives and new technologies. The issues to address are the following:

• Common inservice days for multiple school districts for sharing and collaboration on activities

• Common high school scheduling (daily times and yearly calendars) for purposes of distance education

• Time for teacher creativity

• Time for teacher curriculum revision

• Time for teacher committee work

Actions

• The state has considered lengthening the school year beyond the current 180 days.

• Intermediates have scheduled up to two common inservice days per year.

• Schools have added minutes to each school day to enable monthly early release days; students are released early to give teachers time for an afternoon for teacher preparation, curriculum work, or training.

• Grant monies for inservice training have paid for teacher substitutes to allow teacher release and work time.

• Grant monies for inservice training have paid for teacher stipends for summer work (teacher special projects, curriculum work, or training).

Policy Needs

• Structure opportunities for educators to interact and learn from one another outside of the classroom.

• Realize that teachers need more time to be creative.

• Prioritize budgeting to reflect this philosophy.

Posted on March 6, 1995

URL: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/go/94-4wi.htm