HARRISBURG – Lancaster County Senators Ryan P. Aument (R-36) and Scott Martin (R-13) are working to ensure Pennsylvania schools have additional opportunities to find qualified substitute teachers.
Lawmakers created a program in 2016 that allowed individuals training to be teachers to serve as a substitute teacher, provided the individual has valid clearances and at least 60 credit hours. However, the program is set to expire on June 30, 2021.
The Senators plan to introduce a bill that would make this temporary program permanent so schools, intermediate units and career and technical schools can ensure qualified substitutes are available to meet the needs of students.
“Without this program in place, many schools could struggle to find qualified substitutes in the future, which could create a serious learning deficit for students,” said Martin, who serves as Chair of the Senate Education Committee. “This program played a key role in meeting the critical demands of schools throughout the pandemic, and it should be a big part of our education strategy even after public health emergency is over.”
“The lasting effects of the learning gap on this generation of students created by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to be quite serious,” said Aument. “The impact of this deficit does not need to be further exacerbated by a school struggling to staff their classrooms with qualified substitute teachers. It is my hope that this measure will give schools more flexibility to continue educating Pennsylvania students without further disruptions.”
CONTACT: Terry Trego (717) 787-6535 (Senator Martin)
Stephanie Applegate (717) 787-4420 (Senator Aument)