What level of education does a substitute teacher have to have?
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07-25-06, 07:38 PM
juanruiz
It varies from state to state and school system to school system, but most demand a college degree, although probationary credentials are possible if one is working toward a degree.

07-25-06, 07:55 PM
DorianGreyed
Illinois requires a Bachelor degree. Missouri requires (or did 8 years ago) 60 hours of college credit. Texas used to require a high school diploma, but that was in the mid 1990s; they may require some college now.


Unusual Fact: All high school history teachers in Texas have the same first name.

Coach. Big Grin

07-25-06, 08:28 PM
DorianGreyed
Here is a state-by-state list, with most states listed.

Below are states on the above list that do not require any college credits.

Alabama - HS Diploma or GED

Colorado - HS diploma I year only; after BA needed

Delaware - Apparently only HS Diploma for Class A Certificate

Indiana

Maine

Maryland

Mississippi - None for 20 day certificate

Montana - None for 30 consecutive days

New Hampshire

New Jesey

New Mexico - HS Diloma/GED; 18 yrs old for K-8, 21 yrs old for 9-12

New York - Max 40 days per year

Oklahoma - only 20 consecutive days

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tenessee

Texas

Utah - HS Gaduate

Vermont - HS Graduate

Virginia - HS Graduate

Washington - Emergency Only
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As JR said, most of the states that do not require a BS or a BA allow local districts to set requirements. Presumably, graduation from HS or a GED are required.

I find it appalling that any state will allow someone without any college to be a substitute teacher.

07-25-06, 10:48 PM
jusork
Thanks, guys. Great quick reply.

07-26-06, 03:00 AM
Jenny Roberts
In the UK, if taking the class full time, all substitute teachers need the same qualifications as a permanent teacher.

07-26-06, 05:47 AM
clarebear
In Michigan you need 90 credit hours from a four-year college. Credit earned at a Community College are acceptable as long as a four-year college or university accepts the transfer credits. You also have to apply for a teaching certificate. You do have to be fingerprinted and cleared by the FBI. The pay is about $70.00 per school day.

07-26-06, 06:33 AM
aminator2002
In many school districts in Illinois, substitutes have to have past teaching experience as well and have to have their certificate for at least one subject.

State law is only a minimum requirement.

You can easily find the local requirements for substitute teaching by googling "Substitute Teaching" and the city name. In Georgia there is only a requirement for high school degree, but in Atlanta the requirement is bachelors degree with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

The pay is pretty low for substitutes at 90-100 a day. That works out to less than $1000 per two week paycheck. Even if you could work 12 months a year (which you can't) at substituting, the max pay is only 21,000... that's very sad. And no benefits and no teacher's pension fund.

The problem then becomes that qualified teachers go and find other work rather than work for free and you end up with very poor quality teachers substituting and shortages of subs.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: aminator2002, 07-26-06 07:51 AM

07-26-06, 02:53 PM
Jenny Roberts

quote:
The pay is pretty low for substitutes at 90-100 a day



That is very low, I'm on more than that as a high level teaching assistant! Eek

07-26-06, 03:08 PM
DorianGreyed
Again, that pay level varies from district to district. There are districts around here that pay $70-$80. Generally, in Illinois, that increases to over $100 if the substitute works in the same classroom for the same teacher for 30 continuous days. But you cannot miss a day or that will break the streak and you start from scratch again. And, yes, some districts will "cheat" you if they can. Sometimes, when filling in for a regular teacher who is out for a month or more, you may be told not to come in one day in the middle or near the end of the 30 day period, or, upon arriving at work, you may be assigned to fill in for another teacher while a new sub takes the slot you have filled for X number of days. To make matters worse, students generally treat subs extremely poorly; often, most of each class period is spent on disciplinary matters. Subbing for anything above the 6th grade is not for the fainthearted.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 07-26-06 05:20 PM

07-26-06, 05:43 PM
jusork

quote:
Originally posted by DorianGreyed:
To make matters worse, students generally treat subs extremely poorly; often, most of each class period is spent on disciplinary matters. Subbing for anything above the 6th grade is not for the fainthearted.



Extremely poorly as in having major problems with the kids? I don't remember subs who were treated badly that often. Maybe a few kids who'd be difficult with some subs, but not much worse.

07-26-06, 05:57 PM
DorianGreyed
Every person who I know that subbed in 7-12 classes reported problems, some reported major problems. I know at least three men that were attacked by students in high schools. Many were threatened.

07-26-06, 07:31 PM
jusork
Dang, yeah, that's not good.

07-27-06, 08:48 AM
aminator2002
Kids get a kick out of pranks on subs (I've never heard of attacks but I can believe it in East St. Louis vicinity). I remember being a brat a few times, but I also remember that I was nice to one sub that would get treated very poorly. My father subs for 6th graders and he thinks that is the best age. I recall being my most despicable while in 8th grade.

The pay says a lot about how much unionizing actually accomplishes. Teachers would probably get paid just as poorly and be treated as unfairly if they weren't unionized. Subs should probably be allowed to join the union.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,