(DAILY WIRE) – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill into law that would attempt to alleviate a growing shortage of teachers in the state by allowing school staff to serve as substitutes.
Michigan House Bill 4294 “will temporarily allow schools to employ an individual without certification who already works at the school to substitute teach through the end of the 2021-2022 school year,” the governor’s office said in a press release Monday announcing the signing. That includes school staff such as secretaries, office staff, teacher’s aides, library aides, and even cafeteria workers and bus drivers, as long as they have a high school diploma or GED, FOX 2 Detroit reported.
“Making sure every child in Michigan has access to a high-quality public education is my top priority, which is why this year we made the largest investment in K-12 public schools in Michigan history without raising taxes,” said Whitmer in the press release. “The pandemic has been challenging for our children, teachers, and parents, and our educators have gone above and beyond to ensure Michigan’s children have a bright future. Allowing schools to employ school staff that students know as substitute teachers will help keep school doors open and students learning in the classroom the rest of the school year. I am committed to working with the legislature to develop high-quality solutions to address these staff shortages long-term so that we can ensure that every child is able to access a quality education.”
