FRANKFORT, Ky. — As Kentucky continues to deal with a teacher shortage, lawmakers are doing what they can to help get educators into the classroom. The House passed HB 387 in an 87-5 vote to help with this.
“I know most districts may not need this bill, but I know one close to my heart that does. This would allow us to get more qualified people in the buildings to work in an area where we know there’s already a shortage,” State Rep. Timmy Truett, R-Mckee, said.
HB 387 makes it easier for someone to become a substitute teacher by lowering the requirements to become one. The current law requires 64 hours of college coursework, this bill lowers it to a high school diploma or GED.
Should a district choose to do so, they could grant these people an emergency substitute certification for one year. The bill also extends emergency certifications for people with higher education degrees, now up to five years for someone with a bachelor’s degree and ten years for someone who has a master’s degree.
“What about allowing anybody who a superintendent deems fit to be a substitute teacher be hired to be a substitute teacher in emergency situations,” Truett said.
Truett, who is an elementary school principal in Jackson County, says he’s seen firsthand the situation faced by districts like his where teachers come in even when they’re sick.
“Some days I’ve had teachers rolling with the flu because there’s no substitute to take their spot,” Truett said. “So this would just ease their minds a little bit.”
A state report released last November investigated school staff shortages. It found that “while teacher shortages have long existed in Kentucky, the magnitude of the shortages have increased since 2019.” The findings continued, “Post-pandemic, it appears that concerns about student behavior and other job-related stress are major factors in the increased turnover.”
The bill was widely supported in the chamber, with most Democrats joining Republicans in voting yes.
“I do know from the gentleman from Jackson’s conversation is that there are people in our communities who could be really good subs who don’t meet that qualification,” State Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, said.
The bill sponsor says emergency measures taken during the pandemic gave districts more options for filling open substitute positions. This bill would make the lower education requirement a permit option for districts.
In response to the bill, the Kentucky Department of Education provided Spectrum News 1 the following statement:
“The Education Professional Standards Board and the Kentucky Department of Education have not taken a stance on HB 387. While this bill removes the requirement for substitute teachers to complete a minimum of 64 hours of college credit, it could potentially help the Commonwealth’s districts get the substitutes they need to keep students learning.”