Section 16 of our Provincial Collective Agreement (2020-2023) states a teacher’s time falls within one of the following three categories:
- Assigned teacher time (which shall not exceed 1,044 hours within the school year)
- Time spent carrying on the teacher’s professional responsibilities as a teacher beyond their assigned teacher time.
- Voluntary time spent on extracurricular activities (LINC 12.5) activities and similar matters of benefit to the educational system and students, but extending beyond what the teacher’s professional activities require them to do.
Teacher Time Considerations
Assigned Time: consists of the total assigned teacher time for direct student instruction and assigned time not involving direct student instruction. Would be deemed to include:
- Instructional time
- PD and planning days
- Preparation time as defined in LINC
- Weekly staff meetings on division matters
- Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
- Mandated professional development
- Kindergarten nights
- Meeting the staff nights
Professional Responsibilities: time spent completing duties that are necessary to be successful as a teacher, including time spent on school-related activities agreed to by staff but not mandated by the division:
- Lesson preparation and assessment beyond the school day
- Before and after school supervision (15 minutes)
- Recess supervision
- Individual parent meetings
- IIP meetings
- Response to traumatic events
- Unforeseen or emergent circumstances (busing disruption)
- School based information sharing/discussed at staff meetings.
Voluntary Time: Time spent on extra curricular activities and similar matters of benefit to the educational system and students
- All extra-curricular sports, clubs, arts activities
- Non-mandated professional development
- Farewell/Graduation exercises
- December concerts
- Field trips
- School BBQs, pancake breakfasts
Though the PSSD calendar may be slightly different each year, the calculations for assigned hours in the 2021-2022 calendar will help to understand how teacher assigned time is calculated in Prairie Spirit.
| Assigned Time | Minutes | Days | Total |
| Instructional Days | 315 min | 181 | 950.25 hours |
| Prep Days | 300 min | 9 | 45 hours |
| Partial Prep Days/PD/Staff Meeting Days | 300 min | 4 | 20 hours |
| PSTA General Assembly | 300 min | 1 | 5 hours |
| Total Assigned Time | 195 | 1020.25 hours |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recess time defined as assigned time?
Supervision of students during recess or break periods is considered to be a part of teachers’ professional responsibilities and, therefore, is not considered to be assigned time. (Clause 17.7 Explanatory Note, 2017-2019 Provincial Collective Bargaining Agreement)
What about the 15 minutes prior to and at the end of the school day?
The period of 15 minutes prior to and at the end of the school day is considered to be a part of teachers’ professional responsibilities and, therefore, is not considered to be assigned time. The presence of teachers during these important times in a school day supports the maintenance of good order and general discipline. The number of teachers assigned to supervise to ensure a safe environment during these periods of time would be determined at the school level.
It would benefit principals and teachers to discuss issues such as the length and frequency of staff meetings, and issues related to student supervision. As always, the priority should be developing a safe environment for students while respecting teacher time.