HARRISBURG, Pa. — After months of a substitute teacher crisis brewing across the Commonwealth, Governor Wolf has signed bipartisan legislation aimed at easing the shortfall.
On Dec. 20, Act 91 went into effect expanding the pool of eligible substitutes to fill these temporary openings during the remainder of this school year and 2022-23.
Representative Barb Gleim (R), who sponsored the bill, said in the past the state-issued 14,000 teaching certificates annually, now it's down to fewer than 5,000.
PSEA members, the state’s largest teacher union, have shared that they have been stressed to their breaking point, unable to call off or when they do classrooms go unassigned.
In a statement from the Union President, Rich Askey said in part.
Without enough substitutes, some students are missing lessons, learning in packed classrooms, or even gathering in cafeterias. PSEA members’ top priority is ensuring that all students receive the best possible education. This bill will help students, educators, and support professionals do that essential work.ACT 91 will provide the following measures:
- RETIRED EDUCATORS – can now fill teacher vacancies on an emergency or short-term basis without impacting their pension benefits.
- EDUCATORS WITH INACTIVE CERTIFICATES - can substitute for 180 days during the school year.
- DAY-TO-DAY SUBSTITUTES- the law now expands the number of days a substitute can work in the school year.
- SOON-TO-BE-COLLEGE GRADUATES - future educators who have completed all the requirements except a praxis exam can now substitute.
- CLASSROOM MONITORS- any individual who is 25 years or older and has 60 college credits and completed a classroom management course may serve as a “classroom monitor."
While the union has thanked lawmakers for passing this bill, they are now calling on districts to help incentivize substitutes with more pay.
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