Bill may lower standard for substitute teaching

A bill won committee approval Wednesday to lower the number of college credit hours certain substitute teachers must have from 90 to 60. They would have to be at least 21 years old and working toward teaching degrees.

The House Education Committee approved it on a 10-2 vote.

Even lawmakers backing the plan say they are worried that they may be creating a problem of under-trained classroom teachers while solving the teacher crunch, Booth Newspapers reported yesterday.

"All of us are somewhat uncomfortable doing this," said Rep. Clyde LeTarte (R-Horton).

Michigan schools cite several causes for the shortage, including low pay and a shrinking supply of teaching students. Pay varies by school district, ranging from about $50 to $110 per day.

There are no legislative proposals to raise substitutes' pay.

Under the proposal, teaching students who meet the requirements could substitute temporarily in Michigan schools as part of a secondary substitute pool.

They could only teach kindergarten through ninth grades. Grades 10 through 12 were excluded because the students could be almost the same age as the new substitutes.

"I don't like a bill that addresses the problem of teacher supply by reducing the standards," said Rep. Jim Agee (D-Muskegon). "What if we had a shortage of doctors?

"Would we allow a doctor with just 4 1/2 years of education to work as a doctor if he hadn't yet learned about blood pressure and the circulatory system?"

Despite his concerns, Agee voted for the bill, saying schools are desperate for help.

The proposal would require districts to hire substitutes with at least 90 credit hours before hiring from the secondary pool.

Students in the secondary pool could not substitute more than two consecutive days per week per job. If passed, the law would expire after five years unless lawmakers approved it again.

Current law allows individuals of any age who do not have a Michigan teaching certificate to substitute teach with a state permit - which requires 90 credit hours - up to 150 days per year.

04-03-98