(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is proposing an emergency rule to let paraeducators continue to serve as substitute teachers. They have been allowed to sub in multiple classrooms under the governor’s public health emergency proclamation but it expires Tuesday at midnight. Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls says many Iowa schools are already facing a shortage and the end of the proclamation will make things much worse. Previously, paraeducators had been working under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher. During the pandemic, they have been allowed to teach alone. A legislative committee is expected to approve the emergency directive Tuesday.
