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As part of a series of initiatives to support student achievement, the 2014-2015 school calendar has been restructured to support improved use of embedded professional learning days, says Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Alan McIsaac.

“The calendar includes additional embedded professional learning days, which will support high quality teaching,” said Minister McIsaac. “Instructional time will be preserved, so students and parents will see no change in the number of instructional days during the school year.”

The school calendar lays out the number of school days and instructional days and includes holidays, professional learning days, parent teacher interviews, and examination dates. The new calendar includes two more school days, no change in instructional days, and fewer short weeks.

The new embedded professional learning days provide opportunities for teachers to learn new concepts, meet with other teachers in their school or grade level, try out new concepts in their own classrooms, and evaluate how those concepts are working with their students.

“This type of professional learning is a powerful driver of student achievement because it is directly connected to a teacher’s work in the classroom,” said Elizabeth Costa, Director of Instructional Development and Achievement.

The new school calendar is part of a series of initiatives designed to improve student achievement throughout the Prince Edward Island school system. Upcoming initiatives include:

• Helping students with career development as they prepare for transitions to post-secondary education and/or entering the work force

• Supporting professional learning for our school principals through principal leadership programs

• Supporting meaningful professional learning for teachers

• Working with school boards on an accountability framework to support student achievement

• Reviewing graduation requirements to ensure students are ready to transition to post-secondary and/or the workforce

Parents can access the school calendar and more resources to support student achievement at www.gov.pe.ca/eecd/parentsandstudents.