There’s a crisis in Philly — not enough pay to attract substitute teachers, causing teachers to work extra. Sound familiar? Read a Philly blog post about it:
When the school district of Philadelphia contracted with Source4Teachers to provide substitute teachers in June, it gave the company a list with about 1,100 names of subs. These men and women had subbed for the district at least once during the previous year. Some of them, like a teacher who lives in Mt. Airy and had taught full-time for decades and subbed in his retirement, considered substitute teaching a passion.
But the daily pay offer he received was about 37 percent of what he and other veteran substitutes like him were used to making.
Months later, the school district is experiencing a substitute teacher crisis. Long-time subs are holding out because of the lower pay and for not wanting to feel like scabs. Full-time teachers work extra to makeup for the absences of subs…
In the BPS, we have the same crisis, even without the contracting out of substitute work. Here’s how to get compensated for the lack of substitute teachers:
Eligible teachers who lose a Planning and Development period because they have to cover for a missing substitute are also entitled to collect compensation. Read more.
See the form for payment. The form is used for both types of substitute payment — both for list P&Ds as well as the absorption of students from classes that are uncovered.
Please call or email either Michael or Caren with questions. Not sure who to call? Find the appropriate field rep.
Editor’s note: If an administrator calls for a substitute teacher and none is available, the affected teachers are still, if eligible, entitled to collect compensation.