DESE Looks to Ease Qualifications for Substitute Teachers in Missouri

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education officials may ease qualifications for substitute teachers.

The current qualifications require a substitute teacher to have 60 semester hours of coursework, while the department is looking to keep this rule another option would include 20 hours of online training, with a focus on getting someone prepared for the classroom.

According to a DESE spokesperson the need for substitute teachers exists even more now due to the possibility of teachers being quarantined due to the coronavirus.

The emergency amendment will be presented to the State Board of Education on Tuesday, and if approved the new rules could be in place by the end of this month.