Prime Time: An Overview

Prime Time is a funding formula designed to reduce class size in kindergarten through third grade. The pilot project began in the 1981-82 school year and phase-in implementation began in 1984-85. The 2006-2007 school year is the twenty-third year of implementation for this major effort to provide optimal learning opportunities for students in the early, formative years. Participating school corporations receive state funding toward the hiring of classroom teachers and instructional assistants, where necessary, to meet those target ratios. The local school corporations provide the additional classroom space and materials needed.

The previous goal for a school corporation average was 18 students per teacher in kindergarten and first grade and 20 students per teacher in second and third grade. The 1999 Gerneral Assembly changed the Prime Time funding formula significantly.  The target ratio ranges from 15 to 18 students to one teacher, with the specific target for a given school corporation being determined by the corporation's at-risk index and the amount of tuition support.  The target ratio is defined by law and, as such, is not flexible.  The formula also includes both a 'hold harmless' provision and a 'cap' on the amount that funding may increase from year to year.

The Indiana Department of Education employs a small Prime Time staff within the Center for School Improvement and Performance. Over the past years, the Prime Time staff has provided technical assistance pertaining to best practice, education legislation, and Department initiatives designed to improve student learning. The staff provides professional development experiences, including Prime Time Partnership workshops (for teachers and their assistants), a week long, summer kindergarten institute, school and classroom visits, and regional teaching and learning workshops for teachers, assistants, administrators and parents. The focus of the professional development experiences is on developmentally appropriate and integrated classroom practices which actively engage the child in the learning process.

Recent efforts of the staff have included bringing more elementary schools into conversations about school reform and working closely with those schools as they move through their change processes. Clearly, lowering class size, alone, will not bring about better teaching and learning. Primary teachers, children and classrooms usually exist in the context of the larger elementary school. Effective teaching and learning processes for young children often hold true for older students as well. Therefore, while some efforts specifically target preschool through third, the staff is also committed to facilitating systemic change and continuous improvement in the elementary schools.

For more information regarding the Division of Prime Time or resources for practices and policies at the elementary level, please contact Jayma Ferguson at (317) 232-9152.

Cited in: 511 IAC 1-8-2; 511 IAC 1-8-4; 511 IAC 1-8-4.5; 511 IAC 1-8-7; 511

IAC 1-8-7.5; 511 IAC 1-8-7.5; 511 IAC 1-8-8; 511 IAC 1-8-10;

511 IAC 1-9-11; 511 IAC 1-8-13.

These reflect the laws governing Prime Time. They do not show recent changes, the most significant being the changes 511 IAC 1-8-4 (6) (B) and 1-8-4.5 (6) (B) which is now $26,526.

511 IAC 1-8-7.5 Qualification and duties of Instructional assistants (aides).

Authority: IC 21-1-30-9

Affected: IC 21-1-30

(a) To be qualified for the duties of a Prime Time instructional aide, a person must have a minimum of a high school diploma or its equivalent and one of the following additional requirements:

(1) Post high school work in education or a related field;

(2) Previous work experience in an early childhood program (i.e., day care, community program) documented by letter(s) of reference submitted to the local school corporation;

(3) Previous experience as an elementary classroom aide, documented by letter(s) of reference and record of duties performed; or

(4) Completion of a 15 contact hour training program conducted by the local school corporation. Plans for this program shall be filed with the department of education prior to the beginning of the school year.

(b) Prime Time instructional aide duties include:

(1) Working under the direction of the classroom teacher to:

(A) Assist individual students with learning tasks assigned by the teacher;

(B) Assist students in small group learning situations; and

(C) Monitor the class while the teacher works with groups or individuals.

(2) Assisting the teacher with making instructional materials; and

(3) Assisting the teacher with instruction-related clerical tasks.

(c) A Prime Time instructional aide shall not be assigned:

(1) The sole responsibility for teaching units of study;

(2) As a substitute for an absent teacher; or

(3) Exclusively to non-instructional/clerical responsibilities.

(d) To qualify as one-third (1/3) full-time teacher equivalent for funding, a Prime Time instructional aide shall be:

(1) Employed full-time for at least five (5) hours per day or if employed part-time at least two and one-half (2 1/2) hours per day. For state funding purposes, two (2) half-time aides are equivalent to one (1) full-time aide. Aides may not be employed for less than half-time if they are counted for state funding;

(2) Employed for at least the same number of days the students are in attendance;

(3) Assigned to work with no more than two (2) teachers; and

(4) Assigned to a classroom during the core curricular program.

(e) Nothing in 511 IAC 1-8 shall be interpreted to prohibit a school corporation from establishing additional qualifications for a Prime Time instructional aide or employing additional classroom aides, not funded under IC 21-1-29, for Prime Time classroom. (State Board of Education; 511 IAC 1-8-7.5; filed September 4, 1985, 2:47 pm: 9 IR 35)

1. Why is it that the pay scales, benefits packages, and work schedules for Prime Time instructional assistants vary so much from place to place?

Prime Time statute and State Board rules address state funding and requirements for program participation. The formula does define how funding will be calculated. Funding is based on a corporation's current staff needs in relation to their need in the base year. There is no requirement that a school corporation must pay a Prime Time instructional assistant a set amount. Pay scales, benefit packages, and work schedules vary from corporation to corporation, as they do with all school staff, because there are no state requirements for uniform pay scales and benefit packages and only a minimum requirement for work schedules.

2. May instructional assistants work only during the hours that students are present?

The duties that Prime Time instructional assistants may be assigned include instructional, clerical, and auxiliary duties. Full-time assistants must be employed for a minimum of 5 hours a day. Prime Time assistants shall be assigned to a classroom during the core curricular program [511 IAC 1-8-7.5 (d) (4)]. The assignment of other duties should be governed by the corporation's policies or rules.

3. What are the restrictions/regulations pertaining to clerical and other duties to be performed by Prime Time instructional assistants? Can an assistant be pulled to decorate bulletin boards and/or answer telephones in the school office? Can as assistant be used to do recess/lunch/bus duty for teachers other than those to which they are assigned?

For the purpose of assisting the classroom teacher(s), Prime Time instructional assistants may perform instructional, clerical, and auxiliary duties. Prime Time assistants shall not be assigned exclusively to non-instructional/clerical responsibilities. Prime Time assistants shall be assigned to a classroom during the core curricular program [511 IAC 1-8-7.5 (d) (4)]. Assistants should only be assigned to recess/lunch/bus duties at times when their classroom students are involved in such activities.

4. What are the regulations regarding the use of a Prime Time instructional assistant as a substitute teacher. Is a certified teacher or a person qualified as a substitute teacher, currently employed as an instructional assistant, permitted to substitute for his/her teaching partner in case of absence? For other teachers?

According to 511 IAC 1-8-7.S(c)(2), a Prime Time assistant shall not be assigned as a substitute for an absent teacher. Even though the instructional assistant may be fully qualified and well suited to handle the class in the teacher's absence, the rules are very specific on this point.

5. Are school corporations allowed to terminate employment of Prime Time instructional assistants at the end of the year and rehire them in the fall, reassigning them to new positions?

There is no state statute restricting a school corporation from terminating the employment of Prime Time instructional assistants and later rehiring and reassigning them. Since funding for assistants is determined by total corporation enrollment in K-3, it is often difficult for school corporations to determine their staffing needs before the beginning of the school year.

6. Are all para-professional staff members interchangeable? Can one be considered a Prime Time assistant one year and a Title 1 assistant the rest? Can one assistant provide both Prime Time and Title I services simultaneously?

The Prime Time statute states that school corporations shall not receive Prime Time funding for any teacher or instructional assistant and, at the same time, receive any federal or other state funds specifically for the teacher or assistant [511 IAC 1-8-8]. It is possible, however, for an instructional assistant to be paid one year with Prime Time funds and the next year with Title I funds, if his/her job description and funding source have changed. An instructional assistant is subject to the requirements of the specific funding source used to employ the assistant.

7. How many teachers may one Prime Time instructional assistant be assigned?

A Prime Time instructional assistant may be assigned to work with no more than two teachers [511 IAC 1-2-7.5(c)]. The size of the school corporation is not a justifying factor. If an instructional assistant is assigned to two teachers, the assignment should be consistent for the duration of the school year -- s/he should not be with teachers A and B in one week and teachers C and D in another week.

8. How much in-service is required to be provided for Prime Time instructional assistants? Who is responsible to see that they receive this professional development?

According to 511 IAC 1-8-7.5(a), Prime Time instructional assistants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and one of the following: (1) post high school work in education or a related field., (2) previous work experience in an early childhood program, (3) previous experience as an elementary classroom assistant, (4) completion of a 15 contact hour training program conducted by the local school corporation. It is the responsibility of the school corporation to ensure that instructional assistants satisfy these requirements.

9. Is there a ceiling on the maximum number of students that can be enrolled in a Prime Time classroom? Is there a classroom enrollment figure, for example, twenty-five, that requires an assistant be hired for that classroom?

The Prime Time statute does not describe a "Prime Time classroom." There is no cap or ceiling placed on individual classrooms or schools. Prime Time is a voluntary program offered to school corporations to maintain low teacher/pupil ratios in the early grades. Corporation-wide  K -3 averages range from 15:1 to 18:1.

10. What recourse do teachers and Prime Time instructional assistants have who feel that they have not been treated in accordance with the State Board of Education rules?

If a Prime Time teacher or instructional assistant has a concern s/he is advised to discuss the problem with the local school administration, which may include the principal, superintendent and school board. Most problems can be resolved at the local level. If these channels fail to produce a satisfactory resolution, the complainant may contact the Department of Education. Only in extreme cases will the Department contact the responsible administrator in an attempt to reconcile the problem without jeopardizing funding.

NOTE: Some school corporations may employ instructional assistants who are not  funded by Prime Time and are not counted in the teacher/pupil ratio. That individual need not be classified as "Prime Time" and is not subject to the rules outlined for instructional assistants.