A new Pennsylvania law aims to help ease the substitute teacher shortage nearing crisis levels in many schools.
Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday signed bipartisan legislation that expands the pool of people eligible to fill these temporary openings during the remainder of this school year and 2022-23.
“I am proud to sign this legislation which allows schools the short-term flexibility to ensure children can safely learn in-person where we know is best for them and their futures,” Wolf said in a statement.
The law now allows retired teachers to fill teacher vacancies on an emergency or short-term basis without impacting their pension benefits. Educators with inactive teaching certificates can substitute for 180 days during the school year, double the number they previously could.
Future educators who have completed all the requirements except a PRAXIS exam and have not yet received their diplomas, also can fill in for up to 20 days or longer under certain circumstances.
And individuals at least 25 years or older who have at least 60 college credits or at least three years of experience as a para-professional and who complete a classroom management course may serve as a “classroom monitor” by delivering preplanned assignments for a teacher.
Rep. Barb Gleim, R-Cumberland County, who sponsored the bill, said the classroom staffing problem across the state is worsening. The state used to issue 14,000 teaching certificates annually. Now it is down to fewer than 5,000.
“The declining number of teaching certificates issued in Pennsylvania, plus the strain of bringing back students who have been out of physical classrooms for 18 months, has exacerbated the substitute crisis throughout the state,” Gleim said.
Pennsylvania State Education Association President Richard Askey said his union members have been stressed to the breaking point for months because of the substitute teacher shortage.
“Without enough substitutes, some students are missing lessons, learning in packed classrooms, or even gathering in cafeterias,” he said. “PSEA members’ top priority is ensuring that all students receive the best possible education. This law will help students, educators, and support professionals do that essential work.”
While this new law expands the pool of substitute teachers, he said higher compensation is also needed to attract and retain people to serve in these roles.
“PSEA urges school districts across Pennsylvania to apply for American Rescue Plan funds that can be used to increase daily pay for substitutes,” Askey said. “By expanding the pool of substitutes and paying them what they deserve for a hard day’s work, we can address this crisis before it takes any further toll on student learning and the already heavy workload of our educators and support professionals.”
A separate section of this law allows the attorney general’s office to investigate and institute criminal proceedings against individuals who submit a false report to the Safe2Say Program.
This program allows students to anonymously report potential threats to themselves, their communities and their schools by visiting its website at safe2saypa.org, contacting its 24/7 crisis center hotline at 1-844-723-2729, or downloading its app Safe2SaySomething PA.
Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
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