News Release

Who's Teaching When the Teacher is Out?

Substitute Educators Day 2005 Spotlights the Substitute Teacher Crisis

WASHINGTON — How’s this for a classified ad?  “Tough job. Low pay. Little respect. No benefits. But lots of openings.”  All too often, it is the job description for substitute teachers.  And as we approach Substitute Educators Day (Nov. 18), the National Education Association (NEA) finds that the situation is desperate with schools facing one of the most severe shortages of substitute teachers in memory. 
 
In a recent national survey, 96 percent of school districts reported having difficulties finding substitute teachers.  Of those, 40 percent said it was a severe problem, with classes frequently going uncovered and instruction being affected.

A combination of factors has created the current crisis.  While the appointments of other professionals can be rescheduled when an illness or emergency arises, a teacher’s day can never be canceled.  In addition, school districts are facing an increased demand for teacher professional development opportunities, fueled in part by the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.  Economic conditions are also impacting districts—many former substitutes have moved into full-time positions with the shortage of permanent teachers, and many temporary workers can make more money in other fields.

“The substitute educator pool is quickly dwindling and replacements are hard to find,” says NEA President Reg Weaver.  “Unfortunately, the essence of the job itself is the biggest recruitment hurdle.  Low pay, poor training, lack of benefits and inadequate professional support reduces the number of available substitute teachers.”

Some key trends include:

- Nationwide, substitute teacher salaries average about $65-$70 per day.  In rural areas rates are often as low as $40-$45. 

- Half of public schools serving minority children fill teaching vacancies with long-term substitutes.

- In 77 percent of school districts across the country substitute teachers are given no training at all.            

The need for an expanded pool of qualified candidates, growing attention to teacher quality issues in general, and research suggesting that the use of under-prepared substitutes can lower student achievement has led some states and districts to address the substitute teacher issue in new ways. 
 
“There was a time when substitute teachers were considered hired babysitters, but those days are gone,” says Weaver.  “With today’s focus on standardized test scores, schools are taking a closer look at who’s teaching children when the permanent teacher is out.”
 
Rather than relaxing hiring requirements to increase the number of substitutes, some districts and states are responding to the crisis by raising standards and taking steps to attract and retain quality substitute educators.  The most common strategies used to replenish the supply of qualified substitute teachers include increased pay, additional employment benefits, training sessions in classroom management and incentives for substitutes who teach within a system for a predetermined amount of time.
 
At the building level, teachers and administrators can also help maintain an adequate pool of quality substitute teachers through their actions and attitudes.  Experts suggest that teachers leave lesson plans for substitutes, that principals treat them like professionals, and that students understand that they're expected to treat substitute teachers with the same courtesy and respect as other educators in the building.

“Sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder,” says Weaver.  “In this case, I believe the substitute teacher shortage has created a new appreciation for skilled substitute teachers.”

Created in 2003, Substitute Educators Day is designed to encourage greater respect for school substitute employees and support for improved wages, benefits and training.  The day is observed during American Education Week (AEW), Nov. 13-19.  This year’s AEW theme, “A Strong America Starts with Great Public Schools,” reflects NEA's vision of calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper and achieve in the 21st century.

For more information on substitute teachers, please visit the NEA website at www.nea.org/substitutes.  To learn more about AEW and Substitute Educators Day, visit www.nea.org/aew.
 
 
Oct. 27, 2005

CONTACT:
Melinda Anderson   (202) 822-7230, MAnderson@nea.org

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, college faculty, school administrators, education support professionals, retired educator and students preparing to become teaches.