Katy ISD hears teachers’ complaints that required planning time is being lost; board orders further study

KATY, Texas — Teachers, parents and students told the Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees on March 20 that many campuses are regularly scheduling meetings and duties during teachers’ state‑protected planning time, leaving classroom teachers less time to prepare lessons and meet with parents.

Members of the public and several teachers said the problem is widespread and not limited to a handful of campuses. “I was not sure that I wanted to come here and speak today because I'm afraid of retaliation,” said Autumn Lawler, who identified herself as a high‑school teacher with nine years in Katy ISD and 18 years in education. Allison Knight, another teacher, cited a 1986 court decision and told the board that she and a short survey of colleagues reported 171 teachers at 56 campuses who “regularly losing at least one planning period a week,” a figure Knight said covered about 74% of campuses districtwide.

The district presentation explained the legal baseline and scheduling constraints. Gwen Coffey, Katy ISD assistant superintendent for special education, summarized Texas Education Code 21.404 and told the board that the law guarantees “at least 450 minutes of planning time within each two‑week period” and requires planning periods be no less than 45 minutes in the instructional day. Assistant superintendents and principals described why some mandatory activities — notably ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) special‑education meetings — often must be scheduled during the school day and sometimes during teacher planning…