ELT Initiative

Successful implementation of ELT requires a true collaboration between district administration and the local teachers union, as well as other collective bargaining units. To implement ELT, district management and union leadership must come to agreement on any changes to work schedules and work conditions that arise because of the expanded schedule. Open and regular communication between district leadership and union leadership is essential to a successful planning and redesign process.

As soon as a district decides to consider expanding the school day or year, it is of the utmost importance to include union and teacher leadership in the planning and redesign process. Those schools and districts that have included teachers and union leaders on the planning teams from the very beginning have developed the strongest, most successful proposals.

The following steps will help develop strong labor-management collaboration during the planning process:  

• Step 1: Establish process to jointly consider ELT 
• Step 2: Identify key issues where district and union leadership will need to reach agreement.   
• Step 3: Getting to Yes – Finalizing an Agreement