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H 580

An Act relative to wages for substitute teacher

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bill Galvin

Massachusetts bill establishing minimum wage standards for substitute teachers to improve compensation and address educator recruitment challenges in schools.

Hearing scheduled for 12/02/2025 from 01:00 PM-02:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · H 580

Legislative bill overview

H 580 proposes to establish new wage requirements for substitute teachers in Massachusetts. The bill aims to address compensation standards for educators who fill in for absent regular teachers. Specific wage provisions would be determined by the bill's detailed language and amendments.

Why is this important

Substitute teachers are essential for maintaining classroom continuity but traditionally earn significantly less than full-time educators, often without benefits. Improving substitute teacher wages could enhance recruitment and retention in a role that has faced workforce shortages. This directly affects school districts' ability to maintain educational quality and affects the financial stability of educators who rely on substitute work.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost to school districts: Mandated wage increases would require districts to reallocate budgets or seek additional state funding, with variable fiscal impact depending on implementation scope
  • Definition and scope: Disagreement may arise over which substitute positions are covered, whether it applies statewide uniformly, and whether existing contractual arrangements are grandfathered
  • Market competition effects: Higher substitute wages could reduce the pool of available substitutes if districts cannot afford more positions, or could improve quality by attracting better-qualified candidates

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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