• EPISD is designating two Professional Learning Exchange Days for campus-based professional staff members.  Through Exchange Days, two (2) non-duty days of professional learning that build capacity around the district focus areas may be exchanged for two (2) designated workdays.

    Professional Learning Exchange Days are mutually beneficial to teachers and the district.  This approach -

    • Sharpens the focus of professional learning around district initiatives and priorities.
    • Encourages a variety of forms and structures for professional learning.
    • Increases access to professional learning while reducing teacher time away from instruction and substitute costs.

    What are Exchange Days?
    The Exchange Day Program provides teachers on 187-day work contract opportunities to pursue professional learning in exchange for 2 paid workdays during the school year.  To receive exchange day hours professional learning must be completed during a non-contract time and/or non-workday hours and aligned to the teacher's T-TESS goals.  For the 2023-2024 school year, the workdays are June 10 and June 11, 2024.  Each of these days is provided in exchange for 6 hours of non-contract time professional learning totaling 12 hours.  The purpose of the use of professional development exchange days is to encourage staff members to continue in their professional growth throughout the year.

    Are teachers required to participate in Exchange Days?
    Exchange Days are optional for teachers on a 187-day work contract.  This includes:

    • Classroom Teachers
    • Campus Instructional Coaches
    • Dyslexia Teachers
    • Librarians

    Timeline 
    Sessions will be held in the summer beginning on June 12, 2023.  The summer sessions will end on July 28, 2023.  Saturday sessions will begin on August 12, 2023, and end on September 30, 2023.  Sessions will also take place during the week of intersession, October 2-6, 2023.  No stipends will be paid for this training as teachers will earn credit for being off on June 10 and 11, 2024.  To accommodate late new hires, additional Saturday sessions will be offered beginning January 20, 2024.  The last day to earn Exchange Day credit is March 8, 2024.

    When do I earn credits for Exchange Days?
    Eligible instructional staff may accumulate 12 hours of professional learning credit for use as Exchange Days during any non-contract time.  Exchange Day credits may be earned from professional learning related to job assignments such as attendance at:

    • district professional learning sessions
    • district lead instructional camps (job specific)
    • district lead workshops
    • university courses required for CTE courses

    A full day of training or 6 hours will be considered equivalent to one day of exchange time.

    Are there any penalties for not completing the Exchange Day process?
    Since June 10 and 11, 2024 are paid contract workdays, teachers not completing the 12 hours of professional learning and/or not signing in and submitting exit tickets, are required to report to work on June 10 and 11, 2024.  If a teacher only completes 6 hours of professional learning, the teacher will report work only on June 10, 2024.

    Documentation
    EPISD University will serve as the official record of exchange time being met by teachers.  As teachers participate and complete professional learning courses aligned to their T-TESS goals, they are documented in EPISD University.  The professional learning sessions will be offered by EPISD or through a designated outside provider.  All Exchange Day sessions will be posted on EPISD University.

    Upon completion of the course with a handwritten signature, the professional learning credits are added to the teacher's transcript in EPISD University.

    For questions regarding the Exchange Day Program, please contact Leadership & Talent Development at (915) 230-3000.