RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE:

The Cobb County School District (District) will develop a substitute teaching program which will continue to afford a quality educational program during the absence of the teacher.

RULE:

A. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

    1. Substitute Teachers:

        The Georgia Board of Education has established a priority order of qualifications for

        substitute teachers in grades K-12. As a minimum, each substitute teacher must hold

        a high school diploma or equivalent.

    2. Supply Teachers:

        The Principal will notify the appropriate Human Resources administrator in the event

        certificated professional personnel is absent, or is anticipated to be absent, for more

        than ten consecutive days. The appropriate Human Resources administrator will

        secure a supply teacher. A supply teacher must hold the minimum of a bachelor's

        degree.

B. REQUIREMENTS:

    All persons employed as substitute or supply teachers in the District must meet the

    requirements of either of the two categories below:

    1. Substitute Teachers:

        a. Applicants must have a complete substitute teaching application on file in the

            Human Resources Division.

        b. Applicants must have attended the District’s approved inservice training program

            except as noted in Section B.1.k below.

        c. Applicants must agree to abide by the same Board Policies, District Rules and

            regulations required of contracted classroom teachers.

        d. The Human Resources Division will make available to administrators the names of

            persons who are approved to serve as substitute teachers.

        e. A priority classification of qualified available substitute teachers for grades K-12

           shall be followed in filling temporary vacancies of one to 60 days in length. Any

           classroom teacher vacancy that lasts 11 or more consecutive days in a school year

           may be filled with a certifiable teacher. In descending priority further qualifications

           shall be as follows:

           (1) Possession of a valid or expired professional teaching certificate (or letter of

                 eligibility for same) based upon a baccalaureate degree or higher;

           (2) Completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher;

           (3) Completion of at least one or more years of postsecondary training beyond a

                 high school diploma ranked in order of number of years completed;

           (4) Possession of a high school diploma;

           (5) Possession of a GED certificate.

           Substitute teachers in categories three, four, and five cannot work in any one

           classroom more than 10 consecutive days.

        f. The Principal or designee will be responsible for securing an approved substitute

            teacher for all certificated teachers when needed. In extraordinary circumstances

            and only after a Principal or designee has used every effort to secure a substitute

            with no success, he/she must provide supervision for the absent teacher’s

            class/classes. The following guidelines apply:

            (1) Paraprofessionals:

                  Special education paraprofessionals may not be used as substitute teachers:

                  (a) If such use causes non-compliance with a student’s Individualized Education

                       Plan (IEP); or

                  (b) During the portions of the day the paraprofessional is assigned to students.

            (2) Teachers:

                 A teacher may be used as a substitute teacher as provided in Administrative

                 Rule GBC (Staff Compensation).

        g. The Human Resources Division shall maintain the personnel files of substitute

            teachers.

        h. The Payroll Division shall maintain records verifying information documenting the

            use of substitute teachers.

        i. A substitute may be used up to 10 consecutive days in the same classroom. An

           absence that exceeds 10 consecutive days must be filled by a supply teacher. All

           substitute teachers will be paid by the payroll department according to the

           prevailing rate at the time of service.

        j. Any exceptions to the above directives must be approved by the appropriate

           Human Resources administrator.

        k. The following persons are exempt from B.1.b. and B.1.c. above:

            (1) Teachers who have been employed in the District in the past five years; and

            (2) Persons who were under contract as certificated employees within the past five

                 years.

    2. Supply Teachers:

        A supply teacher will be placed in vacancies lasting 11 or more consecutive school

        days. Employees who are on approved Family Medical Leave may be replaced by a

        supply teacher for the duration of the Family Medical Leave.

        a. Applicants must have a completed employment application on file in the Human

            Resources Division.

        b. The appropriate Human Resources administrator will refer supply candidates to the

            Principal.

        c. The Principal will make the employment recommendation to the Human Resources

            Division.

        d. Applicants must agree to abide by the same Board Policies, District Rules and

            regulations required of contracted classroom teachers.

        e. The Human Resources Division shall maintain the personnel files of supply teachers.

        f. The Payroll Division shall maintain information documenting the use of supply

            teachers.

Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Revised: 11/14/07; 5/14/08