Education Acronyms: New Educator Cheat Sheet
As educators, we often hear acronyms used by the district leadership, principals, teachers, and PSRPs, and these acronyms are used to describe our job duties, professional expectations, and evaluations – – but what do they all mean? Here is the education acronym cheat sheet guide:
Acronym |
Meaning and Usage |
Resources |
AFT |
American Federation of Teachers |
The BTU is a local affiliate of the AFT |
APC |
Advanced Professional Certificate |
Please reference this MSDE page |
AUs |
Achievement Units are the “credits” teachers earn towards a raise. Teachers need 12 AUs to move up the payscale. |
Learning about AUs: https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/achievement-units Check out AU menu opportunities |
BCPSS |
Baltimore City Public Schools |
Here is the BCPSS website |
BIP |
Behavioral Improvement Plan – any student can have a BIP |
Reference pages 15-16 of this MSDE guide |
BOY |
Beginning of Year – usually refers to a type of assessment or a period of time when these assessments are given. |
Reference the Baltimore City Public Schools calendar for specific dates |
BR |
Building Representatives are the people elected at each school (one for teachers and one for PSRPS) to serve as the staff representative in each worksite for the Baltimore Teachers Union. |
If you are a member of the BTU, you can check out the posted BR minutes on this password protected site. |
BTU |
The Baltimore Teachers Union |
Your comrades are ready to support you. |
CBA |
Collective Bargaining Agreement (aka the BTU Contract) |
Reference the BTU teacher contract and PSRP contract here. |
CPDs |
Continuing Professional Development |
In order to keep your Maryland Standard or Advanced teaching certification current, you must complete 6 hours of CPD every 5 years. (Conditional and Resident Certificate holders have a different process.) |
ELL |
English Language Learners are students learning English as as a second, third, or even fourth language. |
Check out this Maryland State resource and this resource for Baltimore City Public Schools. |
EOY |
End of Year – usually refers to a type of assessment or a period of time when these assessments are given. |
Reference the Baltimore City Public Schools calendar for specific dates |
ERP |
ERP is Employee Self Service – an online portal with your paycheck, benefits, evaluation and certification information |
|
ESL |
English as a Second Language – an ESL instructor teaches English as a second language. |
Check out this MD State resource and this resource for Baltimore City Public Schools. |
ESS |
Employee Self Service is another name for ERP: Employee Self Service |
|
ESY |
Extended School Year refers to educational services for certain IEP students that extend into the summer. |
|
FMLA |
Family Medical Leave Act |
FMLA Leave, which members qualify for after one year of work, is used to protect your job for up to 12 weeks for absence due to illness or injury of yourself or a family member. |
IDP |
Individual Development Plan – an annual outline of your professional growth goals and activities. |
Your IDP must be completed by the end of October and is explained here. |
IEP |
Individualized Education Plan for Special Education students with learning accommodations or modifications. |
Please reference the BCPSS Special Education page. |
ILED |
Instructional Leadership Executive Director |
These directors oversee the community learning networks (CLNs). The ILED is your principal’s supervisor. |
MOY |
Middle of Year – usually refers to a type of assessment or a period of time when these assessments are given. |
Reference the Baltimore City Public Schools calendar for specific dates |
MSDE |
Maryland State Department of Education |
Here is the MSDE website |
OPMS |
Online Performance Management System is the online platform on Employee Self Service where your evaluation and performance is documented |
|
PBES |
Performance-Based Evaluation System. Not all people under the Teacher Contract are evaluated the same way. PBES is the evaluation system for many non-classroom certificated staff, including Librarians and Clinicians. |
Review the Teacher Effectiveness Evaluation under Evaluations for Other BTU members. |
PIP |
Performance Improvement Plan |
A PIP is part of the performance evaluation and is supposed to be a collaborative process between the teacher and administration to determine and document areas of improvement. This is supposed to be a supportive process. If you are asked to meet about a PIP, contact your BR. |
PLC |
Professional Learning Community |
A formal or informal group of staff that meets to discuss learning issues and collaborate to implement solutions. Some PLCs are part of school-based professional development, and some PLCs are awarded Acheivement Units (AUs). |
PSRP |
Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel |
PSRPS include several classifications of workers, like secretaries, bus transportation aides, student wholeness specialists, etc. Please see a more comprehensive list of PSRP classifications in the PSRP contract. |
SABES |
STEM academics curriculum for grades 3-5 in many Baltimore elementary schools |
This is a collaboration between Baltimore City Public Schools and Johns Hopkins University. |
SBO |
School Based Option |
“School-Based Options (SBO)” is a process by which certain schools may vote to modify selected sections of Article VII, limited to 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and 7.8, such as the length of the school day. |
SEL |
Social Emotional Learning |
SEL is part of the BCPSS Student Wholeness Plan |
SLO |
The Student Learning Objective is part of each teacher’s evaluation (unless exempt) and is a measurable, long-term academic goal that is informed by data. |
For information and resources about the SLO, contact your school SLO ambassador and visit the district blackboard site. |
SPC |
Standard Professional Certificate |
Please reference this MSDE page |
SPM |
School Performance Measure |
This is the school’s score based on the previous year’s performance- including learning environment, student growth, college and career readiness- and is part of your evaluation score |
T1-7 |
The T1-7 is a reference to the seven teaching domains used in the Instructional Framework rubric. |
Reference pages 8-14 of the Instructional Framework 3.0 rubric. |
TESOL |
TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages |
|
UCC |
Union Chapter Committee is the school based committee that meets with administration to discuss BTU issues |
|
ULR |
The Union Learning Representative is the representative at each school who is responsible for educating their peers about professional growth. |
Check out the ULR responsibilities. |