BRADENTON, Fla. — Aspiring substitute teachers no longer need to have completed college credit hours to get in front of a classroom in Manatee County.
- Teacher shortage cited as reason for change
- Some parents opposed to change
- More Manatee County stories
School board members voted unanimously Tuesday to change the standards for substitute teachers. Now, substitutes only need high school diploma or GED.
They also upped the age for qualified substitutes to 21.
"Manatee County, like Florida in general, not only has a teacher shortage but has a substitute teacher shortage,” explained Charlie Kennedy, a school board member. “So we had to look at ways on how to broaden the net.”
By changing the education requirement, school officials are hoping that regular classroom teachers will no longer have to fill in for missing teachers during their planning periods.
Some parents are not behind the changes.
"I don't think any of them have enough experience in following how a lesson plan is set up,” said parent Stacey Carlin. “How are they going to help my children get to the outcomes that they need?"
"A sub is not supposed to be a babysitter,” added parent Jessica Patterson.
Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties only require substitutes to have a high school diploma. Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties require a number of college credit hours.
