Monthly Archives: November 2021

Grading Guidelines PD Opportunity for High School Teachers

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High School Teachers: To further support you and your administrators in implementing the ACPS Grading Policy and our 2021-22 Grading Guidelines, we will offer professional learning sessions with each high school in December. These virtual sessions will be facilitated by veteran educator and professional writer and trainer, Rick Wormeli, and will give participants an opportunity to examine and unpack problems of practice regarding our grading guidelines.

Please see below for the session schedule and Zoom links. Continue reading →

All Employees Must Complete the Transition Pay Options Acknowledgement Form by Dec. 3!

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As a follow-up to the November 17 email message from Assistant Superintendent Clare Keiser, please remember to complete the Transition Pay Options Acknowledgement Form by Friday, December 3. All employees are required to complete this form to either accept or decline the one-time pay advance that will be distributed on January 31. Please note: This one-time pay advance is related to our move to biweekly pay and is different from the one-time payment approved by the school board earlier this month, which will be added automatically to the December paychecks of all regular employees. Continue reading →

Assessment Tool Review: Illuminate

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Teachers: ACPS strives to provide the best possible instructional tools for you and our students. Industry best practice is to review instructional tools periodically to ensure they are meeting our school division’s needs. The contract for our assessment tool, Illuminate, is up this year for a comprehensive review.

We ask for a few minutes of your time to complete this survey to support the review of this very important tool used in your teaching practice. If you have questions, please contact illuminatesupport@k12albemarle.org. 

Half-Day of Leave Granted to All 12-Month Employees on Nov. 24

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Happy Thanksgiving! Following Governor Northam’s announcement that November 24 will be a half-day for state employees, the Albemarle County School Board has granted the same for ACPS employees. Now, in addition to closing for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday, November 25 and 26, the board has approved a half-day of leave on Wednesday, November 24, for all 12-month employees. All school division offices will close for the Thanksgiving holiday at 12 noon on November 24.

Please Share Your Opinion on the Draft 2022-23 Calendar: Respond by Nov. 21

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Beginning today, employees are being asked to share their opinions on our calendar committee’s first draft of the 2022-23 school calendar: Click here to take our employee survey.

The state department of education requires school divisions to provide either 180 instructional days or 990 clock hours of instruction per year. The draft calendar for 2022-23 reduces the number of instructional days to 175; however, it still delivers more than 990 clock hours of instruction. The reduction in instructional days will provide teachers with more workdays, more professional development opportunities, and additional time to meet the individual learning needs of students. Continue reading →

One-Time Payment in December, Plus a Medical & Dental Rate Holiday in November

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In recognition of the ongoing dedication of ACPS employees during the pandemic, the school board has approved a recommendation from Superintendent Haas to provide a one-time payment to all regular employees this December! Regular full-time employees and part-time employees with a total full-time equivalent (FTE) of 0.7 or greater will receive $1,000. Employees who work less than 0.7 FTE will receive a $750 supplement. Employees must be employed by November 30 and receive a paycheck in December to be eligible for this additional pay.

Also, as previously announced in an issue of benefitsFOCUS, we are pleased to share that we will be offering a premium holiday in November to all medical and dental plan participants! Continue reading →

Revised 2021-22 Calendar Adds Teacher Workdays; No Effect on Pay for 10- and 11-Month Non-Exempt Employees

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Yesterday evening, the school board approved changes to this year’s school calendar in response to the impact the pandemic has had on employee workload. Five full teacher workdays were added to the calendar, including two days previously on the calendar as half-days. Also, two days originally designated as half-days for students were changed to full days of instruction. The revised 2021-22 School Year Calendar includes the following changes: Continue reading →

Office of Community Engagement Releases More Fall 2021 PD Opportunities in Culturally Responsive Teaching

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From our foundational CRT module sessions to a division-wide virtual CRT & The Brain book study, you can start or continue your learning in Culturally Responsive Teaching this fall through the Office of Community Engagement CRT professional development series. To find out more about and register for these PD offerings from the Office of Community Engagement, including CRT modules offered this month, check out the “Upcoming Internal PD” listings on the ACPS Professional Development site. Please contact Leilani Keys or Vicki Hobson, ACPS Equity Specialists, with questions.

Payroll Clarity Project: Planning Tools, Transition Funds, Info Sessions & More

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Below you will find several important pieces of information regarding the Payroll Clarity Project. As a reminder, our move in January to Positive Pay and a biweekly pay cycle will impact all employees. Please make sure to read all of the information being shared about this payroll change.

Planning Tools

Pay Transition Calculators are here!

As promised, we have some tools to help you with planning for the upcoming payroll changes. Continue reading →