Chippewa County schools grapple with substitute shortages
The Sault News
School districts around the country have been struggling with substitute teachers, and that problem was exacerbated even more because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why is there a crisis? According to The School Superintendents Association, the answer comes right out of a basic economics text: increased demand coupled with a decrease in supply.
Geoffrey G. Smith of The School Superintendents Association explained in an article that the increased demand on the existing substitute teacher pool is due in part to higher requirements for in-service training for permanent teachers and generous teacher contracts that offer additional leave time during the school year.