Teacher absenteeism is the primary factor in making substitute teachers vital to the education process. Districts that create and implement
policies and practices to keep the permanent teacher in the classroom decrease the need for substitute teachers.
Several obvious costs are incurred by a district when teachers are out of the classroom:
- Substitute teacher salaries
- Permanent teacher salaries (when absence is within contractural guidelines)
- Costs directly related to maintaining an effective substitute teacher program and adequate substitute teacher pool
In addition to these obvious costs, the ultimate cost is student achievement. Research studies indicate a close correlation between
teacher attendance and student achievement. Overall school morale, including staff, faculty, and students, suffers when
permanent teachers are frequently absent from the classroom.