KSHB 41 reporter Claire Bradshaw covers parts of eastern Jackson County, including areas like Blue Springs and Independence. Send Claire a story idea.

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic, school districts have continued to seek substitute teachers to fill short- and long-term absences.

In Kansas, substitute teachers must have a college degree, complete a teacher training program, and pass a background check. Learn how to apply here.

For Missouri, there are two options. Substitute teachers must have at least 36 credit hours or complete a state-approved substitute teacher course. These requirements changed in June 2022.

The 20-hour online course is offered only by Frontline Education, Kelly Education and accredited colleges in Missouri.

Keith Elliott works for Kelly Services, which helps recruit and place subcontractors in both states. He said the change in Missouri’s requirements will hopefully expand the applicant pool.

“The state of Missouri said, hey, we now have a 20-hour training course that teaches you things like classroom management and conflict de-escalation – things that substitute teachers really need to be successful in the classroom,” Elliott said. “Kelly went a step further and developed our own training that we shared with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.”

Elliott said Kelly Services has not seen a noticeable increase in substitute applications. He said they have seen a 10-15% increase in demand from schools following the pandemic, and that is true for the new school year.