Kentucky House advances bill to ease substitute teacher shortage

Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, speaks on House Bill 387 – a bill that would help ease the substitute teacher shortage.Photo byLRC Public Information

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 14, 2024) — The Kentucky House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that seeks to address the state’s substitute teacher shortage.

Primary sponsor Rep. Timmy Truett, R-McKee, said House Bill 387 is a necessity.

“I know most districts may not need this bill, but I know one close to my heart that does,” he said.

Truett, who is a principal, said his elementary school needed nine substitute teachers one day a couple of weeks ago, but there were none available.

“Teachers do not want to miss (school),” Truett said. “Sometimes they come in on days they shouldn’t be there. Some days I’ve had teachers roll in with the flu because there’s no substitute to take their spot, so this would just ease their minds a little bit.”

Currently in Kentucky, substitute teachers must have at least 64 hours of a college credit to become certified. Under HB 387, the Educational Professional Standards Board would be permitted to issue a one-year emergency substitute teaching certificate to individuals who have a high school diploma or an equivalent.

Truett said he thought about lowering the amount of college credit hours to 32 or 20, but ultimately decided on zero.

“What about allowing anybody who a superintendent deems fit to be a substitute teacher be hired to be a substitute teacher in emergency situations?” Truett said of the decision.

HB 387 would also allow the board to issue a five-year substitute teaching certificate to anyone who has a bachelor’s degree. Ten-year substitute teaching certificates would be permitted for individuals who are eligible for a Kentucky teaching certificate, previously held one, or were a certified teacher in another state.

The House approved HB 387 by an 88-4 vote.

In explaining his “no” vote, Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, said he would prefer if the bill exempted 18 and 19-year-olds from being substitute teachers to other teenagers.

“If we do our jobs here, we will ultimately not have a long-term substitute teacher shortage, and there’s no sunset provision clause in this bill, so I am compelled to vote no,” he added.

Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, said she does not normally support lower qualifications, but HB 387 is needed. She also said that the bill would not require schools to hire substitutes with an emergency certification.

“If you have a high school, you may not choose to have someone who is in this age range if it is someone who is newly out of high school,” Bojanowski said. “I do know from (Truett’s) conversation is that there are people in our communities who could be really good subs who don’t meet that qualification, and for that reason I support the bill.”

HB 387 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

by LRC Public Information Office