How Do We Make Plan Time More Equitable?
45 Minutes a Day Isn’t Enough to Plan
Planning time is often treated like one-size-fits-all: 45 minutes a day, regardless of subject, workload, or complexity.
Let’s be honest: 45 minutes a day is not enough — especially for teachers juggling multiple preps, grading-intensive courses, or hands-on set-ups like science labs or art studios.
What if we supported teachers the way we support students — by giving them what they actually need?
A New Model: Differentiated Planning Time
Here’s a proposed formula that recognizes the real time it takes to plan, grade, and prep:
Baseline Planning Time: 45 minutes per day for 1 prep
Additional Preps: +20 minutes/day per additional prep
Science Teachers (1 lab/week): +15 minutes/day per prep
ELA Teachers (1 essay/month w/ revision): +20 minutes/day per prep
Example: An Art Teacher with 5 unique preps
1 prep = 45 min
4 additional preps = 4 x 20 min = 80 min
Total = 125 minutes/day of planning
This model acknowledges the actual workload. It doesn’t pretend that planning a single curriculum is the same as managing five. It doesn’t ignore grading-intensive content. It honors the labor behind great teaching.
Implementation Options
How would this work in a real school schedule?
Option 1: Build Time Into the Day
Create banked time by restructuring the schedule (e.g., early release Wednesdays)
Pair classes for cross-coverage ("sister classes") once a week
Use block days for embedded planning windows
Option 2: Offset With Stipends
Offer paid after-hours planning time based on the extra minutes owed
Structure stipends using the same formula: preps, labs, grading load
Why It Matters
This model:
Supports retention by reducing burnout
Promotes excellence through actual time for innovation
Models equity by recognizing the different labor involved in each content area
Planning is not a luxury. It’s the backbone of every great lesson.
Let’s Help Teachers Teach Students
We don’t just need more time. We need the right kind of time.
Let’s stop pretending all workloads are the same and start honoring the complex, creative, demanding work of teaching.
Want to see how this model might work in your building? Download this [Google Sheet Prototype Tool] to plug in your school’s schedule and teacher loads.
Time is equity. And teachers deserve both.