SUBSTITUTE TEACHING
Substitute Teaching Requests are on Hold Until EPSB Waives Regulation.
The current waiver ends June 30, 2024. This regulation specifically states that student teachers may not receive direct compensation during student teaching 16 KAR 5:040 – Section 5 (7). Therefore, we will hold all requests until EPSB has updated the current expiring waiver.
On July 16, 2023, the Kentucky Educational Standards Board approved a waiver to allow substitute teaching to count towards student teaching during the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters. The guidelines outlined herein are intended to support WKU student teachers such that they can serve as substitute teachers while experiencing the mentorship and development afforded to them in their student teaching semester.
WKU approves Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semester student teachers as emergency substitute teachers only in the school district(s) in which they are assigned for the semester. Student teachers may be paid as substitute teachers and count those days as part of their required instructional days. Students should apply for EPSB emergency substitute certification through the related school district’s human resources department. Student teachers may not be used as substitute teachers until they have secured emergency substitute certification for their individual school districts.
Student Teachers should review these directions prior to serving as a substitute teacher: SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS AND GUIDELINES.
This is an optional requirement. Student teachers should decide if applying for emergency substitute certification is a beneficial opportunity for them.
Long-Term Substitute During Student Teaching
School administration may request for a WKU Student Teacher to serve as a long-term substitute. The Office of Professional Educator Services will work with the university supervisor to determine if this is a fit or not for the student teacher. These situations are decided on a case-by-case basis.
If the student teacher agrees then the student teacher is still responsible to keep all of the Sources of Evidence updated except for three areas (weekly responsibilities, observation reflections of other teachers and the weekly feedback from the mentor teachers). University Supervisors will use the other evidence to score Professionalism in Domain 4.
The student teacher must still attend the 489 Seminar class days and school administration is responsible for finding coverage for the student teacher on that day. Passing the 489 Teacher Work Sample is a requirement for graduation and certification.
The student teacher will not be observed by the mentor teacher, but will be by the University Supervisor with all of the required 4 observation/reflection documents. The university supervisor will work with the assigned mentor teacher when mid-term and final grades are determined so that consensus scoring is being completed.
Agreement for Long-term Substitutes during Student Teaching We will send this to all parties to sign, electronically, once we have confirmed the student teacher is approved to substitute in a long-term capacity.