16 NCAC 06C .0403         substitute employees

(a)  Each local school administrative unit ("LSAU") shall employ all substitute employees that the local superintendent or designee deems necessary for the efficient operation of the LSAU, subject to the requirements of this Rule.

(b)  Substitute Teachers

(1)           The LSAU shall, to the extent feasible, hire licensed teachers to serve as substitute teachers.

(2)           The LSAU shall employ substitute teachers in units of half or whole days.

(3)           If the LSAU employs a teacher assistant as a substitute, the LSAU shall pay the substitute an amount equivalent to the daily salary rate for a first-year teacher with a bachelor-level teaching license.

(4)           The minimum pay rate for a substitute teacher who holds a current North Carolina teaching license shall be at least 65 percent of the daily pay rate of a licensed first-year teacher with a bachelor-level teaching license.

(5)           The minimum pay for a substitute teacher who does not hold a current North Carolina teaching license shall be at least 50 percent of the daily pay rate of a licensed first-year teacher with a bachelor-level teaching license but shall not exceed the minimum pay of a substitute teacher who holds such a license.

(6)           If a teacher takes extended sick leave under 16 NCAC 06C .0402(h), the LSAU shall deduct fifty dollars ($50.00) per day from the teacher's salary, regardless of whether the LSAU hires a substitute teacher.

(7)           The LSAU shall pay the substitute teacher from the same source of funds (local, state, or federal) as the regular teacher, unless otherwise specified by this Section.

(8)           A substitute teacher shall be considered a long-term substitute if employed for at least 30 hours per week for an anticipated duration of at least six months. A long-term substitute teacher is not an interim employee and is entitled to the same benefits as permanent full-time employees if the substitute otherwise meets the eligibility requirements for those benefits.

(c)  Other Substitute Employees

(1)           The local superintendent shall determine the need to hire a substitute employee for a school counselor, assistant principal, principal, or other administrator who does not have teaching responsibilities; or for non-licensed employees such as school nurses, custodians, or clerical staff.

(2)           The LSAU shall pay for any substitute employee hired to replace such an employee from local funds.

(3)           The LSAU may temporarily assigns a teacher to fulfill the duties of a principal who is on sick leave for at least 10 days. Under such circumstances, the LSAU shall not deduct any money from the teacher's salary to pay for a substitute teacher for the teacher's regular classroom.

(d)  An LSAU may employ a licensed teacher to fill a teacher vacancy of at least 10 days but less than six months if the teacher is licensed in the same license area. Unless the teacher requests to be employed as a substitute, the LSAU shall pay the teacher at the teacher's eligible rate on the State salary schedule, but the teacher shall not be entitled to benefits.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 115C‑12(8);

Eff. July 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. October 1, 1993; October 1, 1990; March 1, 1990; August 1, 1987;

Readopted Eff. July 1, 2026.