Education Tax Credit Program Ruled Unconstitutional in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Superior Court ruled this week that the state’s new education tax credit... Read More
Texas District Can’t Find Subs for 15% of Teacher Absences
Trying to raise standards for substitute teaching has backfired for Fort Worth, who are unable to cover 15% of teacher absences.
Fort Worth is struggling to cover teacher absences after a recent district review found that one in six absences weren’t filled.
District officials analyzed data for February and found that out of 10,318 teacher absences, 1,600 — 15.5 percent — went unfilled. In recent years, the district’s unfilled substitute rate had been about 5 to 6 percent.
This comes in the wake of a change in requirements enacted in 2010 that substitutes must have a bachelor’s degree. Even after allowing those who started substitute teaching before the new rule to be grandfathered into the old scheme to remain, this has led to major shortages in the supply of teachers within the district. Now Fort Worth officials are being forced to reevaluate the change and remove restrictions on teacher quality just to fill the vacancy.
Substitute teacher Jennifer Campbell provides a first-hand account of the problem, claiming that every day she receives 20 to 30 requests:
“And if I go online, there’s usually about three pages of openings, when another district I sub at will have just one or a few postings,” Campbell said. “I know there’s a shortage because I’m always asked if I can cover for another class during an off period because that class didn’t get a sub.”
Other districts with less stringent requirements for substitute teachers are suffering fewer absences so it does indeed look to be a short-term solution to the problem.
“I think the thinking at that time was that we should have set in place high expectations for our kids and a reflection of that was that those subs were degreed professionals,” Superintendent Walter Dansby said.
“But certainly, we need to look at it to the fullest and see all the other things we are doing — such as staff development — to address the substitute shortage.”
A recent analysis of the problem showed that about 13% of the absences were due to staff development events. Officials say they are looking at ways to improve the scheduling of these so that children aren’t so effected by combined class sizes and disrupted teaching. However, the most common absence days in Fort Worth are also Monday and Friday which indicates that there may also be some sick day abuse from teachers extending their weekends.
Friday
April 20th, 2012
Recent News
Parents Pump $5-7 Billion Annually into Growing Tutoring Industry
Tutoring programs offering additional out-of-school instruction to students are drawing a growing... Read More
Microsoft Discounts Surface Tablets for Education Market
Microsoft is looking to take a bite out of Apple’s controlling share of the education... Read More
Popular News
James Shuls: Why We Need School Choice 26
The Pedagogical Agenda of Common Core Math Standards 25
Julia Steiny: 5th Graders Having a Blast with Algebra 14
Career Index
Plan your career as an educator using our free online datacase of useful information.
- Select a State Subject
- Computer Networking Schools in Minnesota
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Michigan
- Human Services Schools in North Dakota
- Select a City Subject
- Computer Networking Schools in Alexandria
- Computer Networking Schools in Fergus Falls
- Computer Networking Schools in Saint Louis Park
- Computer Networking Schools in Thief River Falls
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Adrian
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Ann Arbor
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Auburn Hills
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Battle Creek
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Benton Harbor
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Big Rapids
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Bloomfield Hills
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Detroit
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Flint
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Grand Rapids
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Kalamazoo
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Lansing
- Dental Hygienist Schools in Port Huron
- Dental Hygienist Schools in University Center
- Human Services Schools in Bismarck
- Human Services Schools in Fargo
- Human Services Schools in Fort Yates
- Human Services Schools in Grand Forks
- Human Services Schools in Minot
- Human Services Schools in New Town
- Human Services Schools in Valley City
Comments
I don’t understand why not. From all the comments I read on this site, teaching is the easier profession ever and apparently the compensation and benefits are kingly! You’d think you’d be fighting them away from the door, the job’s so desirable.
“However, the most common absence days in Fort Worth are also Monday and Friday which indicates that there may also be some sick day abuse from teachers extending their weekends.”
So they can solve their substitute problems by having teachers bring in doctor’s notes for any absence on Monday or Friday.
See, the first thaught is to think the absences are due to abuse, but their be other reasons for at as well. One reason could be that their children have doctor’s appointments, or are ill, or that teachers are affected by them as well. Another reason is that their are not enough people with degrees are willing to suffer the abuse that subs face at schools. It might also be that the pat is not that good, however, the people on this site may not believe that.
According to the Fort Worth Independent School District , the substitute pay is $77 per day.
Let me see if I can understand. First we treat teachers like crap. Then we notice we have a teacher shortage. Am I missing something here?
What’s a substitute teacher? Most schools in Oklahoma expect the teachers to sub during their planning period. I haven’t seen a substitute teacher on grounds in over three years.
Secondly, everyone misses days for one reason or another. Just like in any other business. A majority of the profession is filled by women and women are expected to take care of things like child illnesses and such.
Thirdly, towards that first comment, the compensation and benefits are kingly? If so, then why do most teachers, especially single ones, still have to take on a second job to make ends meet? And the job being desirable? Most people can’t stand other people’s kids…sad but true. Partially because kids make your world disorderly…and partially because kids these days don’t know how to behave and lack respect for authority.
Why is it that all the people who whine about lazy, overpaid teachers never get into teaching? After all if it’s such “easy money” you think they would be the first in line to apply at a local public school. Truth is, people like that couldn’t last a week in our profession and have such pathetic positions that they resort to rumor mongering and spreading lies.
den, I believe the kingly statement was sarcasm. But I do have a question. When teachers cover for other teachers are they compensated? I know some schools pay a rate while others offer comp. time. Just wondering what you guys do.
Also, requiring a sub to have a bachelor’s degree is rediculous…unless they are a long term sub. The compensation isn’t worth it. At $77 per day, that’s only $9.63 per hour…that is well below what should be expected and acceptable for a bachelor’s degree. Minimum wage is $7.25.
Agreed, Matt…we need like buttons here!
@Mike – at my school, teachers are not compensated for covering down on other classes; granted, when it is only once in a while, no one minds. But on occasion, situations arise where it is fairly guaranteed that I will lose my planning period to cover down on another class.
Ironically, many of the days of mass teacher absences here are due to our participating in High Schools That Work, as that program evidently requires lots of meetings to discuss how we are improving educational outcomes for students at our school.
As for a sub shortage, I can believe that.