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Committees on teacher workload get down to work
The Joint C2 Committees on Teachers’ Workload, mandated by the Assurances for Students Act, are busy identifying teachers’ tasks and determining what can be eliminated or modified to reduce teacher workload and improve teacher efficacy. (The C2 committee, which involves teacher and school board representatives, derives its name from part C and clause 2 of the March 2013 Framework Agreement).
In accordance with the legislation, initial reports were due October 31. However, because of flooding in southern Alberta, in June, the Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Alberta School Boards Association and the Alberta government agreed to extend the deadline for the six boards affected by flooding to January 31, 2014. Reports from all other school boards were received by the first deadline.
As expected, the committee reports reveal a wide variation in the structure of committees and the issues discussed. The majority of committees report that significant work and genuine effort from teachers and school boards has resulted in a meaningful process.
But this is only the beginning—committees are required by legislation to operate until at least August 31, 2016. However, this change in approach to teacher work could be rule-changing. The purpose of the committees is to ensure that teacher work focuses on student learning in a way that improves teacher efficacy and reduces or eliminates tasks that detract from that goal. Ideally, at every level, before any new initiative is rolled out, teachers, superintendents and education officials will meet, discuss, assess efficacy and pilot tests, and decide which are the best activities. The goal is to eliminate ineffective activities, not simply add new requirements.
To view the report of your local C2 committee, contact your C2 committee chair or local president to obtain a copy. ❚
