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2023 Legislative Update: Short-Call Substitute Pilot

8/1/2023 4:00:47 PM

Student writing with a pencil

August 1, 2023

Short-Call Substitute Pilot 

The 2023 Legislature authorized a new pilot program, which expands the eligibility requirements to serve as a short-call substitute teacher in a public school, district, or charter school in Minnesota ("school").  A short-call substitute can replace a teacher of record or fill a vacancy for up to 20 consecutive school days. 

Applicants/schools are now able to apply for the pilot short-call substitute teaching license using a paper application (available on https://mn.gov/pelsb/aspiring-educators/apply/). 

Eligibility

The following individuals are now eligible to apply for short call substitute license under this pilot program:

  • individuals who hold an associate's degree in any field, or
  • educational support professionals (paraprofessionals) that hold a high school diploma, or equivalent, and have worked for at least one year for the hiring school.

Application Requirements

All applicants must have a school willing to hire them as a short-call substitute teacher. The applicant and school will jointly apply for the pilot short-call substitute license. As part of the application, the school will be required to verify, via attestation:

  • the applicant has completed a background check in accordance with Minn. Stat. 123B.03,
  • the applicant will receive substitute teacher training,
  • if applicable, the applicant has at least one year of experience as an Educational Support Professional (ESP) or Paraprofessional with the hiring school, and 
  • if applicable, the applicant holds a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency.  

Background Check

PELSB is required to run a background check on all licensure applicants. However, PELSB may process pilot short-call substitute licenses with the background check pending. PELSB reserves the right to revoke the license based on the results of the PELSB background check. 

Pilot ends on June 30, 2025

The pilot short-call substitute license is valid until June 30, 2025. 

Additional Requirements

A school cannot require a school employee to apply for a short-call substitute license or retaliate against an employee that does not apply for the license under this pilot.

A school must compensate an employee serving as a short-call substitute teacher under this pilot with $200 per day or the employee's regular rate of pay - whichever is greater.

If a school fails to provide the substitute training to an applicant, PELSB may remove the school from the short-call substitute pilot program.

Citation

Laws of Minnesota 2023, chapter 55, article 5, section 52

Other PELSB Short Call Substitute Licenses 

Individuals who qualify for one of PELSB's other short-call substitute licenses will not be eligible for the pilot short-call substitute license. Applicants that meet requirements for the three-year short call substitute license or the lifetime substitute license should use the appropriate  application to apply for licensure. More information about PELSB's other substitute licenses and qualifications can be found on PELSB's website.  

Legislative Agenda

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