Workday and Planning Time

Does your workday and weekly planning time align with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and state law?

WORKDAY: Per the MOU and state law, teachers are contracted to work seven and one-half (7 ½) hours each school day.  This accounts for the seven-hour instructional day and arrival and departure based on the needs of the students. MOU p.15 and TN Code Annotated 49-1-302 (e)(2)

PLANNING TIME: Per the MOU and state law, teachers shall have two and one-half hours (2 ½) each week with no assigned duties or responsibilities other than individual (self-selected) planning for instruction. MOU p.20 and 49-6-3004 (e)(1)

We know teachers work many hours outside contracted hours without compensation. This should not be the norm or expectation. No other profession has the expectation that employees will complete assigned job duties outside contracted hours without being compensated. Lack of self-selected planning time contributes to this issue.

What can you do? If you’re not a member of MNEA, join. We are stronger when we work together. Joining MNEA is the best way to advocate for the teaching profession.

What else can you do? Document how you are spending your planning time and the work you do after hours. Document the task and the time spent completing each task. If your workday and planning time do not comply with the MOU and state law, contact MNEA to assist with filing a grievance following the grievance procedure in the MOU (p.11). If all MNEA members at your building are consistently working outside contracted hours to complete assigned duties and are consistently being denied two and one-half hours (2 ½) of individual (self-selected) planning time, MNEA can file a grievance on behalf of all members at your school.

To find the best way to contact us to request assistance, go here: https://mnea.com/mnea-blog/contactus.

To download a copy of the MOU, go to the “Get Involved” tab at mnea.com.