SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after section 38G1/2, the following new section:-

Section 38G3/4. (a) An individual who does not hold a certificate under section 38G shall be eligible to teach as a substitute in a school district, an area vocational-technical school or a charter school, provided that the uncertified individual:

(i) Is currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program in a college or university located in the Commonwealth; and

(ii) Has completed at least sixty (60) semester hours or the equivalent of courses at a college or university located in the Commonwealth. 

(b)   The chief school administrator of a school district, an area vocational-technical school or a charter school may issue a substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers to an uncertified individual. A school district may establish the design and requirements for a substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers for those individuals serving as substitute instructors in their district; provided, however, the teaching permit shall be subject to the following provisions:

(i)  An individual receiving substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers may serve as a substitute teacher for no more than ten (10) consecutive days per school year for a single professional employee or temporary professional employee.

(ii)  A substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers shall be valid for one (1) year and may be renewed for one (1) additional year by the chief school administrator, provided that the uncertified individual:

(i)  provides documentation of the completion of an additional fifteen (15) credit hours or equivalent from a college or university located in the Commonwealth; and

(ii)  remains enrolled in a college or university located in the Commonwealth.

(c)   The individual shall receive a salary fixed by the governing body of the school district, area vocational-technical school or charter school.

(d)   The individual shall not have the right to enroll in the public school employees' retirement system, nor shall service as a substitute under this section be eligible for credit in the public school employees' retirement system.

(e)  The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide an annual report on the use of the permits under this section to the joint committee on education. To complete the report, the department shall annually survey school districts, vocational-technical schools and charter schools.