Federal Aid Package for Substitute and Contractual Teachers and Paraprofessionals 

Across the country, schools are closing at alarming rates. Some for two weeks, some significantly longer. Ultimately, no one knows how long schools will be closed.

Substitute teachers and contractors do not receive paid time off and we rely on our work in schools to meet our personal and financial needs. Our families are facing a long list of economic catastrophes: losing our homes, retirements, extreme debt/bankruptcy, inability to provide food for our children and/or pay for much needed health insurance.  Cancellations such as this during this novel coronavirus outbreak {COVID-19}  are cause of grave concern to all who work in the educational field as incomes plummet or disappear completely. Fear, anger and dread are being felt by all as our families begin to understand the monumental cost to help save our nation from the spread of the virus.  

There is already no paid time off/sick leave for these groups, so many are forced to choose between potential bankruptcy or struggling to make ends meet by applying for unemployment. The very nature of our profession is close contact, often in small classroom settings, where despite using our above-average knowledge of sanitation practices, we may have already been exposed to airborne transmission with every possible cough or sneeze from our students. We understand the need to close the schools. We also recognize the extreme financial hardship this will cause for us and our families. 

The need for an Economic Hardship package is immediate and should include the following; 

-Emergency Medicaid Health insurance for those who are uninsured 

-$100 billion in government-backed, low interest loans, to help support the the  income that is disappearing 

AND

-Equal relief/aid funding of substitute and contractual teachers and paraprofessionals, as we are not covered under the current proposed relief bills being voted on at the Federal level

We the undersigned plead with our elected officials to hear our warnings and cries for help as we not only see our own economic plight but also the sacrifice of our livelihoods as we struggle to keep our students, their families, and our communities safe.