October 10, 2025

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a good week. This week we had our monthly Delegate Assembly meeting and our monthly Union Power Happy Hour! APS put out its Request for Proposals (RFP) for healthcare companies. Our hope is that our favorite healthcare companies will submit affordable plans that are rich with services and providers.  Today is World Mental Health Day--please remember today and every day to take care of YOU.

Our Admin/Receptionist is still out on leave. Please leave a message when you call or send an email to admin@aeave.org.  Please be sure to confirm that someone will be at the office before stopping by.

Please review a few items from the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)below:

Conferences/Work Schedules

Per the Licensed CBA (pertinent parts highlighted below), teachers cannot be required to conduct conferences outside of contract hours and staggering teachers’ hours to accommodate conferences outside of contract hours would have to be by mutual agreement.

Article 7: Contracts and Work Schedules

1. Definition

2. Full-time employee - A full-time employee is one whose total position with Arlington Public Schools is at least 1.00.

3. Part-time employee - A part-time employee is one whose total position with Arlington Public Schools is less than a 1.00 full time position. A part-time teacher is employed under an annual contract.

4. Extra Duty Assignments

Individuals who serve in extra duty assignments and who are regular Arlington Public Schools employees can expect to continue in those assignments unless notified otherwise within forty-five days after the end of the assignment. Continuation in an extra duty assignment is contingent on continuation of employment during the next school year.

1. Full-time Employee - Regular Work Schedules

2. Full-time T-scale employees based in schools shall have a regular workday of seven and one-half hours. This shall include a duty-free lunch period of at least thirty-five minutes. To the extent possible, a teacher’s day shall be employed in instructing students. The teacher’s workday, to begin prior to the start of the student school day and to end after the student school day, shall be scheduled by the principal.

   1. With mutual agreement, a principal may assign teachers to staggered work schedules not to exceed a regular school day in length.

   2. County-wide program requirements may dictate that hours be staggered for a particular assignment. In such cases, affected teachers should have adequate advanced notice to take advantage of options so that the teacher can retain current employment status.

   3. If it is necessary for a teacher to supervise students going to and coming from the classroom at lunchtime, such supervisory time shall not impinge on the teacher’s lunch period. No teacher shall be assigned lunchroom duty, except in an emergency.

   4. Teachers may leave the building during their lunch period without requesting permission as long as they communicate their departure and return to the building.

   5. Secondary school teachers shall be assigned to no more than the equivalent of five daily teaching periods. Teachers with daily assignments of four classes in three locations (i.e., three schools) shall be considered full-time. Teachers at schools with block scheduling shall teach the equivalent of five teaching periods across all blocks.

   6. Alternative programs by their nature may require differentiated teaching assignments based upon the students served and scheduling constraints. Full time teachers in these programs shall have the equivalent of a daily planning period and a “duty period” which may include supervisory, administrative, or team planning responsibilities. Neither the duty period nor the planning period shall infringe on the teacher’s duty-free lunch period.

3. Employees shall not be required to sign-in or sign-out. However, a principal may require employees to indicate their presence in or absence from the building.

4. Principals may grant permission to teachers to leave the building or to leave early when there are reasonable circumstances justifying the absence and when the absence will not impede the instructional process.

5. Other full-time bargaining unit members shall have a workday of eight hours. This shall include a duty-free lunch period of at least thirty-five minutes.

6. A calendar indicating the days and hours to be worked by ten-month employees shall be published annually by Human Resources.

1. Teacher Planning Time

2. Teachers shall have time during the school day for individual preparation and planning related to their assignment. Teachers employed less than full time shall have planning time proportionate with their full-time equivalency (FTE).

3. Teachers shall have at least three (3) of their weekly planning times unencumbered from meetings or other duties.

4. Elementary school (K-5) teachers:

   1. Planning time shall be scheduled during periods when students are attending art, music, physical education, or receiving instruction from other specialized program teachers.

   2. Weekly planning time shall total at least 360 minutes, with no fewer than 45 consecutive minutes of unencumbered daily planning time during the instructional day. The transition time from one instructional group to another is included within instructional time. Instructional time includes everything except the duty-free lunch period and planning.

   3. Art, music, PE, and other program teachers shall be allotted preparation time between different grade level groups that allows for cleanup and setup of appropriate instructional materials.

5. Elementary school pre-kindergarten teachers (Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI), Montessori, pre-kindergarten special education):

   1. Planning time shall total at least 255 minutes per week with no fewer than 30 consecutive minutes of unencumbered daily planning time during the instructional day. The transition time from one instructional group to another is included within instructional time. Instructional time includes everything except the duty-free lunch period and planning.

   2. Planning time shall occur while students are attending art, music, physical education, or other program teachers are instructing students.

6. Middle and High School Teachers

   1. Middle and high school teachers shall be provided at least one planning period each day during instructional hours, equivalent to a normal teaching period.

   2. To the extent possible, team teachers shall be given planning periods at the same time.

   3. In certain circumstances, in schools with block scheduling, it may be necessary for a teacher to be assigned a day with no assigned planning period, while the other day has substantial planning time. In such circumstances, the total planning time shall average at least one period per day.

1. Teacher Meetings and Evening Events

2. Teachers shall be required to attend faculty, county, department and committee meetings and back-to-school night as scheduled by the appropriate administrator.

3. Employees shall receive notification on the back-to-school night date no later than the first contracted day of the school year. Employees shall receive notification of school-based meetings two weeks in advance, except in emergencies.

4. Staff meetings shall not exceed two (2) meetings per month. Staff meetings shall not exceed 60 minutes past the contract day.

5. Non-contracted Workdays

When employees are requested by their supervisor to report to work on non-contracted workdays, they may request leave equal to the time worked that day.

1. Professional Development

   
   

   Mandated professional development shall be conducted during contract hours. Professional development outside of contract hours are not mandatory.

2. Collaborative Planning

   
   

   To the extent possible, there shall be common planning periods. CLT meetings shall be teacher-driven, and agendas shall be set by teachers.

3. Pre-Service Days

4. Pre-service days shall not exceed seven (7) days.

5. If pre-service is six (6) days or less, employees shall have a minimum of one full day and one half day of unencumbered time free from meetings and assigned duties.

6. If pre-service is seven (7) days, employees shall have a minimum of two full days of unencumbered time free from meetings and assigned duties.

7. Assignment of Student Teachers

8. A teacher shall serve as the supervising teacher of a student teacher only on a voluntary basis.

9. The assignment of a student teacher to a supervising teacher shall be preceded by reasonable advance notice, an opportunity for an interview and an opportunity for the supervising teacher to decline to work with the student.

10. Employee Lactation Support

    
    

    Every Arlington Public Schools building shall designate a private, non-restroom location, shielded from public view, where employees may take breaks of reasonable length during the school day to express milk to feed their child.

11. Student Referrals

    
    

    Employees shall complete standardized referrals regarding incidents of disruptive or unsafe behavior. Reports shall be filed with an administrator and will include the name of the employee completing the referral, description of the behavior, the location, date and time. The reporting employee shall be informed of corrective actions or interventions.

12. Grade Changes

    
    

    Teachers determine the final grades of students enrolled in their classes. Grades shall reflect the student’s academic performance. Administrative directives to change grades shall be provided in writing to the teacher.

Grievances

Grievance Procedures are outlined in Article 47 of the Licensed CBA, and Article 48 of the Support Staff CBA.

Both Agreements can be found on the AEA website:  www.aeavea.org, and on the APS website:  Labor Relations

If you have questions, or would like a hard copy of an agreement, please contact the AEA office: admin@aeava.org

Share your story

Tell Your Story...Today!

NEA is preparing an amicus brief in a case before the Supreme Court that has significant implications for the rights of transgender students. We need your help to provide the Court with an understanding of the importance of inclusion in athletics, as NEA members see it and can speak to from their own experience. In the linked form below, we are looking for member experiences that relate to state bans on trans students (particularly trans girls) from participating in school athletics. We want to hear from folks involved in sports, especially, but really any educator who can speak to the harms of exclusion and benefits of inclusion in athletics, with a focus on the K-12 setting.

It could be as detailed as a specific story about a student being excluded or afraid to participate under a state law ban or as general as describing the benefits of including everyone and why it's unnecessary to prohibit some kids from joining a team that matches their gender identity. Your identity can be kept confidential if you prefer. The deadline for drafting this brief is upcoming, and we could use your stories as soon as possible! Thank you!

If your affiliates, members, or students have been affected, we encourage you to share your experience. To the extent possible, please include details that help illustrate the broader impact—whether it’s attendance numbers, resource shortages, policy changes, or shifts in school climate. While individual stories are powerful, we also want to show that these challenges are not isolated—they affect all of us.

By submitting a story, you are indicating your interest in sharing information that NEA may wish to use in litigation. NEA staff will follow up for more details as needed.

Use the link below to Tell Your Story...

SUBMIT

Upcoming Events

Please VOTE!

Your Voice. Our Schools. Vote Now!

We are in the critical final days before Election Day, and the decisions made in this election will directly impact our classrooms, your compensation, and the future of every student in Virginia.

For every educator and public school supporter, your vote must be cast and secured!

If you have your absentee ballot in hand, or if you plan to vote early, please use this urgent, three-step checklist right now to make sure your voice is officially counted.

🚨 THE VEA MEMBER VOTER CHECKLIST 🚨

1. 🛑 Urgent: Return Your Ballot!

If you requested an absentee ballot, you must return it immediately. Do not rely on the mail at this point—hand-deliver it to ensure it is counted on time.

Drop-Off Deadline: All in-person ballots (including drop boxes) must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 24.

➡️ Find Your Nearest Drop-Off Location or Registrar’s Office: https://www.thevirginiavoterguide.com/voting-info

2. ✅ Verify Your Registration Status

Has your registration information changed? Did you receive a new voter card? A simple, quick check can prevent major headaches and ensure you show up at the correct polling place.

➡️ Click Here to Verify Your Voter Status: https://www.thevirginiavoterguide.com/#regcheck

3. 🗓️ Make Your Final Voting Plan

Whether you vote early, absentee, or on Election Day, your vote is essential. If you haven't voted yet:

• Final Day for In-Person Early Voting: Friday, October 24

• Election Day: Tuesday, November 4

➡️ Find Your Polling Location and Hours: https://www.thevirginiavoterguide.com/voting-info

The power we have as a collective voice—the voice of Virginia's educators—is only as strong as the turnout at the polls. Do your part today and ensure your ballot is counted.

Thank you for everything you do for our students, and thank you for voting.

General Election - Early Voting

Friday, September 19, 2025 through 5:00 p.m., Saturday, November 1, 2025

General Election - Voter Registration Deadline

October 24, 2025*Voters may register same-day and vote using a provisional ballot In-Person after October 24, 2025, through Election Day.

General Election - Vote by Mail Ballot Request Deadline

Friday, October 24, 2025, 5:00 p.m.

General Election Day - November 4, 2025

NEWS FROM VEA

We’re proud to announce the first Equity, Justice and Learning Impact from the Equity, Justice and Learning Department. This new department marries justice and learning together, to center racial and social justice in education in ways that benefit instruction, educators and communities.  We believe in the importance of saying the full name of our department, as we won’t abbreviate our work on equity, justice, and learning, we also won’t take any shortcuts to ensure that equity-based practices and initiative are the foundation of a strong VEA.  

Register Now for EPIC!

VEA’s EPIC (Education Professionals in Collaboration) conference will take place November 7-8 at the Richmond Marriott Downtown, and we need you to attend for it to be a success! This year we are focused on creating a space that reflects the true diversity of public education, to build collective resilience, advance cultural competency through meaningful dialogue, and really collaborate on successful strategies to uplift diversity in education. We’ll have sessions on the journey of educators of color in shaping American education, successful strategies for creating rigorous assignments for your multilingual learners, learning Virginia laws that directly relate to LGBTQIA+ students and staff, political activism and so much more!

Registration closes, for overnight stays, on Wednesday October 15th so be sure to reserve your room today! Commuter Registration closes November 2nd!

Learn More and Register Here

Did You Know EPIC’s Keynote Speaker Holds the Number 1 Spot on the American Library Association Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2024?

That’s right, George M. Johnson’s book “All Boys Aren’t Blue” has been challenged 39 times, the most of any book in 2024, according to the American Library Association. George M Johnson is an Award- Willing Black Non-Binary Writer, Author and Executive Producer. Their New York Times Bestselling book “All Boys Aren’t Blue” is a series of essays that describe their adolescence as a Black, queer boy in New Jersey. For this event alone, EPIC is well worth your time!

Read Banned Books Week

Speaking of challenged books, have you participated in Read Banned Books Week, yet? Read Banned Books week runs from Oct. 5-11th, so you can still take action to support the freedom to read. This year’s theme “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights” reminds us that censorship is nothing new, and although efforts continue to this day it has no place in modern society. The right to read belongs to all of us! You can find out more here, and see the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024 here, especially EPIC keynote speaker George M. Johnson’s #1 most challenged book.

Wear Purple Next Friday to Stand Against Domestic Violence

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) 18 and older in the U.S. have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Also, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. To help raise awareness about statistics like this, VEA’s Minority and Women's Concerns Committee will mark Friday, October 17, 2025, as VEA Domestic Violence Awareness Day. The Committee would like to invite members and staff to show solidarity by wearing purple that day and sharing their support on social media with the hashtags #BreakTheCycle, #VEA4DomesticViolenceAwareness, and #Every1KnowsSome1 to amplify our message and remind everyone that help, and hope is always available.