Long-Term Substitute Teachers FAQs

How are long term substitute assignments filled?
School principals determine the long term assignment needs and are responsible for the interview and selection of the candidate.  Candidates for long term substitute teacher assignments may be identified by schools, subject area offices, the Office of Temporary Services, and/or assigned personnel hiring officers.  All long term substitute teachers must meet the substitute teacher qualifications to be eligible.

Are all long term substitutes highly qualified?
Long term substitute teachers are not required to be highly qualified; however, it is BCPS’s goal to place the most qualified long term substitute teacher in the assignment.   Two components of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 [are] established teacher quality requirements for the teacher of record (person responsible for the academic grade) for core academic subjects and the parents’ right to know of the teachers qualifications.  Schools supported by Title I funds must provide notification to parents about the long term substitute teacher’s certification and/or degree status if someone is teaching for four weeks or more who does not meet the established teacher quality requirements.   

What is the rate of pay for long term substitutes?
The rate of pay is determined by the substitute teacher’s degree status reflected in his/her profile.  If a substitute teacher is non-degreed the rate is $82.92.  If the substitute teacher is degreed, the rate is $112.53. Substitutes are paid the daily rate until long term status is achieved.  The long term substitute teacher will receive the difference in pay between the daily rate and long term rate retroactive from the first day of the assignment.

When is a substitute teacher considered long term?
A long term assignment is any one assignment that lasts 10 days or longer.  This assignment may be 10 days consecutively or a few days a week for several weeks.

What happens if a substitute accepts a long term assignment but is absent before working 10 days?
 Any absence before completing the 10 days of the assignment, without prior notification and approval from the principal at the time the assignment was offered and accepted, will be considered a break in service.  The assignment start date will be adjusted to reflect the day the substitute teacher returns to the assignment.  Long term status will be granted 10 work days from the adjusted start date.

Are long term substitutes paid for holidays?
Once long term status has been granted, long term substitute teachers will be paid for all holidays recognized by Baltimore County Board of Education.  A complete list of recognized holidays are available in the Master Agreement between Council 67/Local 434 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO and the Board of Education of Baltimore County, Article XI – Holidays.

Are long term substitutes paid for their absences?
Once long term status has been granted, long term substitute teachers will earn ½ day of personal sick time every pay period in which they work at least six days.  Personal sick time will be tracked manually by the school’s SEMS operator.  Personal sick time accumulated is available only for the assignment in which it was earned.  Any other type of absence is unpaid.

Should long term substitutes report to work on professional study days?
Unless directed by the principal not to report, long term substitute teachers should report for work on professional study days.  Long term substitute teachers are paid their appropriate long term rate for the time they worked.

Are long term substitutes paid for snow days?
Long term substitute teachers are not to report to work when schools are closed due to emergency conditions or inclement weather.  Long term substitute teachers will be paid when schools close due to snow.  In case of delayed openings or early dismissals, long term substitute teachers need to adjust their schedule accordingly.

What happens if a long term substitute is being paid at the non-degreed rate for a long term assignment and provides proof of a college degree to the Office of Temporary Services?
After the Office of Temporary Services receives proof of a degree from an accredited four year college, the substitute teacher’s profile will be updated to reflect the new pay rate.  The rate effective date will be the degree conferred date or the long term assignment start date, whichever date is most recent.  The difference in pay rate will be paid retroactively from the effective date.  The effective date for retroactive pay will not exceed the current calendar year.