Substitute teachers - what are the rules?

[Anonymous]

My child's teacher has been out sick and for other reasons on several occasions this year, resulting in a revolving door of subs. This clearly is not healthy for a consistent learning environment, and the kids have started misbehaving in class (according to my child anyway). He said class is consistently loud, students are talking and not listening, etc. This is still the beginning of the school year and I'm severely concerned how this will affect my child's education.

What are the rules on being absent and having substitute teachers? When does a school deem a consistent, long-term sub (same person), needs to be in the class? This is truly so disappointing/concerning, and the children will end up carrying the burden. Do I complain to the Principal?

[Anonymous]

Since you don't know why the teacher is absent so much (and legally can't know), I would tread lightly.

The issue of LT sub is up to the principal, but they cost more. And if the absences are sporadic, that is problematic.

As an example, in K, my DD's teacher started missing a lot of work. Turns out the issue was cancer; she passed away the next year. Now, there are legal protections for people with disabilities (and many chronic illnesses are considered disabilities).

And you say several times, but how many? 3 or 4 in a quarter is not a lot. 10 or 15 would be.

[Anonymous]

No I agree with OP. The teacher should just keep a bucket next to her to vomit right there in the room so OP's snowflake's education isn't "disrupted."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't know why the teacher is absent so much (and legally can't know), I would tread lightly.

The issue of LT sub is up to the principal, but they cost more. And if the absences are sporadic, that is problematic.

As an example, in K, my DD's teacher started missing a lot of work. Turns out the issue was cancer; she passed away the next year. Now, there are legal protections for people with disabilities (and many chronic illnesses are considered disabilities).

And you say several times, but how many? 3 or 4 in a quarter is not a lot. 10 or 15 would be.

+1

Though I teach in MD, long term subs can sometimes be hard to come by, particularly if you are not able to plan ahead and schedule them. If a teacher is going on maternity leave, for example, of course they'll line up a long term sub. But as PP mentioned, there could be other things going on. Last winter my wife had a second trimester loss, and I had to be out for a week. Luckily I have solid co-workers who supported me and made sure my students, and my sub, had what they needed. But sometimes serious shit happens and you just have to do the best you can with arranging subs and leaving plans for them.

[Anonymous]

We've had a sub for the entire year so far. Apparently they didn't plan well enough and we started with 39 kids in a classroom. The principal seemed to think that was OK but after a lot of pushback split the class in two and has put in a sub in a new class. There is a 100 day limit for subs but it looks like it can be ignored by the principal and he has stated we might have her for the whole year. He claims to be looking for a full time replacement but the position is not even advertised.

So short answer, yes, there is a 100 day limit but they can ignore it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've had a sub for the entire year so far. Apparently they didn't plan well enough and we started with 39 kids in a classroom. The principal seemed to think that was OK but after a lot of pushback split the class in two and has put in a sub in a new class. There is a 100 day limit for subs but it looks like it can be ignored by the principal and he has stated we might have her for the whole year. He claims to be looking for a full time replacement but the position is not even advertised.

So short answer, yes, there is a 100 day limit but they can ignore it.

How do you know whether the position is advertised or not? Or whether that is the way the principal finds his teachers?

You all are micromanaging schooling to an alarming degree.

[Anonymous]

There have been lots of studies and research on the topic of substitute teachers, and it does have negative effects on the kids' education if its consistent. Unfortunately if this teacher does have a serious illness, I would hope the Principal will put the kids education as a priority and try to implement a class assistant or something to instill continuity for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't know why the teacher is absent so much (and legally can't know), I would tread lightly.

The issue of LT sub is up to the principal, but they cost more. And if the absences are sporadic, that is problematic.

As an example, in K, my DD's teacher started missing a lot of work. Turns out the issue was cancer; she passed away the next year. Now, there are legal protections for people with disabilities (and many chronic illnesses are considered disabilities).

And you say several times, but how many? 3 or 4 in a quarter is not a lot. 10 or 15 would be.

I disagree. I have not missed 3 or 4 days of work in the last 12-years let alone in one 9-week period filled with 4 day or less work days. Unfortunately, since the teacher is more likely female, less likely to be the breadwinner in the family, and seems to be able to take off without repercussion, they are usually the ones that stay home when their child is sick as opposed to the other parent. At my work, if a child is sick, usually parents rotate days off. The exception is the guy whose wife is a teacher, she takes of for sick days, kids' appointments, he never missed work for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've had a sub for the entire year so far. Apparently they didn't plan well enough and we started with 39 kids in a classroom. The principal seemed to think that was OK but after a lot of pushback split the class in two and has put in a sub in a new class. There is a 100 day limit for subs but it looks like it can be ignored by the principal and he has stated we might have her for the whole year. He claims to be looking for a full time replacement but the position is not even advertised.

So short answer, yes, there is a 100 day limit but they can ignore it.

100 days isn't until February. They only count school days in the count.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've had a sub for the entire year so far. Apparently they didn't plan well enough and we started with 39 kids in a classroom. The principal seemed to think that was OK but after a lot of pushback split the class in two and has put in a sub in a new class. There is a 100 day limit for subs but it looks like it can be ignored by the principal and he has stated we might have her for the whole year. He claims to be looking for a full time replacement but the position is not even advertised.

So short answer, yes, there is a 100 day limit but they can ignore it.

How do you know whether the position is advertised or not? Or whether that is the way the principal finds his teachers?

You all are micromanaging schooling to an alarming degree.

Positions in FCPS are advertised here: http://www.fcps.edu/hr/employment/jobs/

The principal isn't finding teachers. That's the point. If he had an alternative that worked, no one would care. It's when he fails that it gets attention. Advertising a position is so very basic and he chooses not to do the fundamentals so our kids suffer.

An all year sub is not OK. Heck, 3 months is too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't know why the teacher is absent so much (and legally can't know), I would tread lightly.

The issue of LT sub is up to the principal, but they cost more. And if the absences are sporadic, that is problematic.

As an example, in K, my DD's teacher started missing a lot of work. Turns out the issue was cancer; she passed away the next year. Now, there are legal protections for people with disabilities (and many chronic illnesses are considered disabilities).

And you say several times, but how many? 3 or 4 in a quarter is not a lot. 10 or 15 would be.

I disagree. I have not missed 3 or 4 days of work in the last 12-years let alone in one 9-week period filled with 4 day or less work days. Unfortunately, since the teacher is more likely female, less likely to be the breadwinner in the family, and seems to be able to take off without repercussion, they are usually the ones that stay home when their child is sick as opposed to the other parent. At my work, if a child is sick, usually parents rotate days off. The exception is the guy whose wife is a teacher, she takes of for sick days, kids' appointments, he never missed work for that.

A teacher can take days off without repercussion? I doubt you've ever had to create a sub plan, it's generally more work than it's worth. Additionally, teachers (especially in the lower grades) are exposed to an inordinate amount of germs, seriously, there should be hazard pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since you don't know why the teacher is absent so much (and legally can't know), I would tread lightly.

The issue of LT sub is up to the principal, but they cost more. And if the absences are sporadic, that is problematic.

As an example, in K, my DD's teacher started missing a lot of work. Turns out the issue was cancer; she passed away the next year. Now, there are legal protections for people with disabilities (and many chronic illnesses are considered disabilities).

And you say several times, but how many? 3 or 4 in a quarter is not a lot. 10 or 15 would be.

I disagree. I have not missed 3 or 4 days of work in the last 12-years let alone in one 9-week period filled with 4 day or less work days. Unfortunately, since the teacher is more likely female, less likely to be the breadwinner in the family, and seems to be able to take off without repercussion, they are usually the ones that stay home when their child is sick as opposed to the other parent. At my work, if a child is sick, usually parents rotate days off. The exception is the guy whose wife is a teacher, she takes of for sick days, kids' appointments, he never missed work for that.

I am glad that you are blessed with good health. As someone who has had some issues -- I have missed 160+ days since 2012 -- let me tell you: shit happens. Sometimes it happens to teachers. There are laws that protect all people, including teachers. ADA, FMLA, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've had a sub for the entire year so far. Apparently they didn't plan well enough and we started with 39 kids in a classroom. The principal seemed to think that was OK but after a lot of pushback split the class in two and has put in a sub in a new class. There is a 100 day limit for subs but it looks like it can be ignored by the principal and he has stated we might have her for the whole year. He claims to be looking for a full time replacement but the position is not even advertised.

So short answer, yes, there is a 100 day limit but they can ignore it.

How do you know whether the position is advertised or not? Or whether that is the way the principal finds his teachers?

You all are micromanaging schooling to an alarming degree.

Positions in FCPS are advertised here: http://www.fcps.edu/hr/employment/jobs/

The principal isn't finding teachers. That's the point. If he had an alternative that worked, no one would care. It's when he fails that it gets attention. Advertising a position is so very basic and he chooses not to do the fundamentals so our kids suffer.

An all year sub is not OK. Heck, 3 months is too much.

This list is more specific: http://www.fcps.edu/hr/employment/jobs/vacancy.shtml

We just hired a teacher to fill an elementary position that has been covered by a substitute since the start of this school year. Thankfully she accepted. There just wasn't anyone else available to hire.

[Anonymous]

As expected, all the instructional coach positions have been filled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've had a sub for the entire year so far. Apparently they didn't plan well enough and we started with 39 kids in a classroom. The principal seemed to think that was OK but after a lot of pushback split the class in two and has put in a sub in a new class. There is a 100 day limit for subs but it looks like it can be ignored by the principal and he has stated we might have her for the whole year. He claims to be looking for a full time replacement but the position is not even advertised.

So short answer, yes, there is a 100 day limit but they can ignore it.

Sunrise Valley?