Good Morning WTU Family!
As you know, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, the D.C. Council unanimously approved our new five-year collective bargaining agreement with DC Public Schools. This agreement went into effect as of Wednesday, January 8th and marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to continue to improve working conditions of our dedicated educators.
For those interested, we've posted the proceedings here for you to view the ratification and hear the discussions by the D.C. Council.
In our commitment to keeping you informed, each week in the Brew and the Brew-To-Go, we will delve into newly agreed-upon articles and elements of the contract that are critical to our working conditions.
This week, we focus on the Thirty-Minute Morning Block provisions outlined in Article 23.8:
23.8 Thirty-Minute Morning Block
23.8.1 The Thirty-Minute Morning Block is designated from 8:10 AM to 8:40 AM for all DCPS schools operating under a traditional instructional schedule (8:45 AM to 3:15 PM).
23.8.2 The Thirty-Minute Morning Block shall be defined as the thirty (30) minutes prior to a five-minute period before the start of the school day for students for all DCPS schools that operate under a non-traditional instructional schedule (anything other than 8:45 AM to 3:15 PM).
23.8.3 Each school will establish a Morning Block Team (MBT) comprising the Supervisor (or designee), the Building Representative (or designee), the Instructional Coach, all department and grade level chairs, and other Teachers as designated by the Supervisor or the Building Representative.
23.8.4 Morning Blocks not reserved for teacher-initiated individual or collaborative planning will be principal-led. The MBT shall develop a Morning Block plan and a monthly calendar for the principal-led Morning Block that shall be provided to all Teachers. The Morning Block plan shall include schedules, procedures, and substantive details, and developed with faculty input.
23.8.5 Four Morning Blocks each week are reserved for teacher-initiated planning. All teacher-initiated Morning Blocks shall be consistent with the requirements of a School’s restructuring program, intervention model, or instructional strategy. The Morning Blocks shall be used only for the following purposes:
- (23.8.5.1.) Collaborative Planning, among Teachers, which may include:
- Analysis of student data
- Sharing of best practices
- Implementation of DCPS standards-based curricula
- Alignment of instruction with assessments
- Discussion of educational issues
- (23.8.5.2.) Individual Teacher Planning, which may include:
- Lesson preparation
- Instructional material development
- Providing student feedback
- Recordkeeping
- Professional development
23.8.6 If a Supervisor causes a teacher to lose a Morning Block, the teacher shall receive compensation for the additional workload using Administrative Premium.
Key Points to Remember:
- Individual teachers can use this time for group collaboration but not at the directive of a school leader or administrator.
- The four weekly morning blocks (120 minutes weekly), your planning time (225 minutes weekly), and your lunch (225 minutes weekly) are three separate rights you are entitled to under the contract. Teachers should not be told by their administrator that they will be receiving less planning time or lunch because they are receiving four morning blocks.
- If the work week is shortened due to a holiday, teachers are entitled to receive their morning blocks for the remainder of the week. For example, January 20th is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and a four-day work week. Since it is a four-day work week and under the contract you are entitled to four morning blocks so you should receive morning blocks for the remainder of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday). This is why your school’s morning block team needs to meet and plan ahead.
- Contractually, your tour of duty still starts at 8:00am and you must arrive at your school by this time unless otherwise directed by DCPS or your school leader.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our students and for being an integral part of the WTU community.
In solidarity,
WTU President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons
Online applications are now open to nominate a 7-12th grade STEM teacher for the Nation's Highest Honors for Teachers of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM, including Computer Science) HERE.
Mark your calendars now!
"Bowling for Gold" Tournament hosted by the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO.
When: Sunday, February 2, 2025
Where: Crofton Bowling Centre
Enjoy a day of bowling with your fellow union members and colleagues while supporting the Community Services Agency's Emergency Assistance Fund. WTU will pay the bowling fee which includes three games and the shoe rental. Please reach out to Mike Roland ([email protected]) if you’d like to attend individually or with a school team. Don't miss the fun—sign up today!
WTU members will have an opportunity to ask OSSE questions on the proposed high school graduation requirements in a virtual meeting on Jan 29, 2025 at 4:30-5:30PM. ONLINE MEETING LINK
We hope you will attend this very important meeting. Please take a moment to give questions, comments, or concerns regarding the proposed requirements via this FORM.
Make sure you are eligible to vote & receive WTU Communications!
The AM Brew is distributed as a benefit to members of the WTU. In the coming weeks, we’ll be updating our database removing non-members from the distribution for the AM Brew. To ensure that you’re not inadvertently removed from the distribution list, please confirm your personal email address by emailing [email protected].
Your ability to vote in WTU elections and receive WTU Communications depends on our ability to reach you. We must have your personal email address for all communications.
AM Brew News and Notices are archived at AMBrew.
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