Beginning Jan. 1 prospective substitute teachers will not have to prove they have the basic skills needed to teach, at least temporarily. Senate Bill 1397 waives the basic skills proficiency requirement for an emergency 30-day substitute permit through July 1, 2024.
Substitute teacher candidates usually prove basic skills proficiency by taking a test or completing specific coursework. Substitutes are still required to have completed a bachelor’s degree and a background check.
California schools have struggled to find enough substitutes to fill classrooms in recent years. Many quit and found other jobs during the first year of the pandemic when school campuses closed. Others took permanent teaching jobs on emergency or long-term permits, further reducing the number of daily substitutes available to schools.