Put Time Back in School Year : More training days for teachers means fewer nonteaching hours

In Japan, students spend 220 days a year in school, 40 more than the typical American student. In California, pupils are excused at least eight of their 180 schooldays to give teachers time to learn new skills in training classes. Teachers need that time, but so do students. Now a bill sponsored by state Sen. Steve Peace (D-El Cajon) holds promise of increasing academic instruction time without shortchanging teachers.

The bill, SB 85, would fund up to eight additional staff development days for teachers on noninstructional days, like weekends or in advance or just after the academic year. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Education Committee on April 9 and merits passage.

If the bill passes and receives state funding, participating school districts would get staff development allowances of $220 per day, per teacher to provide the extra training in reading, math and other academic subjects during noninstructional time. Teachers would get paid a per diem rate to stay current, learn new material, tackle computer skills or master changes in the curriculum. The changes in the state’s reading and math instruction guidelines are a prime challenge.

This support is invaluable, but the state’s underpaid public school teachers rightly expect to do these sessions during school hours or be paid extra for those attended on their free time.

If all California districts choose to participate, which is unlikely because of union contracts and local preferences, the cost to the state would be a whopping $400 million per year, a financial hurdle that derailed the bill last year. Finding that kind of money while the state is committed to the admirable but costly class-size reduction program will be tough. But an incremental pay improvement for teacher development days would only cost $50 million. Sacramento should be able to make that investment in public education.

State Supt. of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin supports this bill, and favors an even longer California school year of 200 days. Most industrialized nations require at least that many. SB 85 would lengthen the instructional time for our students, helping them and their country in the long run.