Student Achievement: Improving Our Focus.
ABSTRACT An efficient way to help students achieve academically is to maximize the consistent attendance of permanent teachers in the classroom. Students nationwide are spending increased amounts of time with instructors other than their permanent teachers. A large contributor to the problem of teacher absenteeism is mandatory leave for professional development training programs. To combat teacher absenteeism caused by burnout, stress, or abuse of available teacher leave, districts have implemented an incentive program instead of a use them or lose them policy. Student achievement, to a large degree, depends on continuity of instruction. Research shows that interruption of instruction negatively affects academic achievement. Students often experience lack of instructional continuity due to exposure to untrained substitutes who often do not have regular teaching certificates and are not qualified to be in the classroom. School districts must provide effective, comprehensive training for substitute teachers that addresses professional behavior, classroom management, legal and first aid issues, teaching and instructional strategies, fill-in activities, and substitute resource kits. Such training benefits students more than anyone else. Trained substitutes will most likely do a better job of maintaining instructional continuity, which is essential to student achievement. (Contains 17 references.) (SM)
Substitute Teachers-Education's Relief Pitchers
On any given day, as many as 8 percent of a school's teachers are absent, requiring the services of a substitute teacher. With that substitute's cost averaging between $40 and $80 per day, school administrators cannot afford to ignore the magnitude and experience of the substitute teacher.
Evaluatioa, Feedback Necessary
Although remedies exist for many of the problems present with a substitute in the building, this writer warns that it is important to understand the cause of the problem prior to identification of a remedy so that the best course of action may be chosen.