Allegheny County school districts, many already facing financial and workforce challenges, are preparing for another potential hurdle: a plan that could keep some teachers out of the classroom for half of the school year.
The county’s paid parental leave proposal — which would mandate 18 weeks of leave for people employed in the county — means districts would have to pay substitute teachers in addition to the salaries of teachers on leave.
Pennsylvania is grappling with a yearslong teacher shortage, and substitutes in recent years have been in short supply. A 2025 Pennsylvania School Boards Association report found 82% of districts surveyed reported a substitute teacher shortage…