Questions about Professional Development Days

Noblesville Schools Professional Development Days Information
Frequently Asked Questions
(Professional Development Days are also referred to as "Waiver Days," "Staff Development Days," or "Early Release Days.")

What are "Waiver Days?"
State law allows the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) to grant school corporations up to six (6) partial school days per year to be used for the purpose of providing professional development opportunities for teachers and staff. Since state law requires a minimum of 180 full school days, a "waiver" of the minimum time per day is required for the early release of students so teachers may attend training sessions or work on school improvement programs for part of the school day.

How are Waiver Days approved?
A school corporation must apply to the IDOE for approval to schedule these early dismissal days. Such a request must first be approved by the local school board. Next, Department of Education officials must review the application and recommend approval by the State Board of Education. The State Board makes the final determination for waiving the minimum length of day requirements and granting approval for the requested number of days.

Why are professional development programs necessary?
The new school improvement law called P.L. 221 requires a school corporation to plan for the professional growth and development of teachers to facilitate improved student academic performance. Every profession expects its members to maintain effective performance standards by continually improving job-related skills and knowledge. In order for teachers to best serve their students, they must be involved in training programs that provide up-to-date information on current research, methods and materials.

Why not schedule a couple of full days instead of six partial days?
This certainly would help parents with child care arrangements and provide schools with more consistent, effective implementation of professional development programs. Unfortunately, the IDOE does not allow schools to schedule full days as part of the 180 day minimum calendar. A maximum of two hours per school day is allowed for early dismissal of students with no more than six such days per year.

Why not schedule more days for teachers or have these programs on weekends or in the summer?
School personnel have requested funding for additional contract days from the state legislature for staff development many times in the past. The cost of funding those extra days statewide is very expensive and has so far not been approved. Many teachers and administrators attend conferences during weekends and school vacation times. Most inservice meetings, however, are scheduled during the school year and staff must go when the training is made available.