This course is designed to meet the requirements for the Substitute Authorization Program. Receiving a
Substitute Authorization will allow an individual who holds an associate’s degree or higher or has completed 60
semester hours through a regionally-accredited institution to substitute in grades PK-12 for no more than ten
consecutive days in a thirty-day period in one job assignment for a regularly-assigned teacher who is
absent, except in the driver''s education classroom. An individual who holds a paraeducator certificate without
an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree or 60 semester hours of credit and completes the Substitute
Authorization course will be authorized to substitute only in the special education classroom to which they are
assigned for no more than 10 consecutive days in a 30-day period any classroom except driver’s ed.

The successful completion of the Substitute Authorization program is designed to enable
participants to become competent in the skills necessary to successfully substitute in Iowa''s
elementary, middle school and high school classrooms. The program will address the four
components required by the Board of Educational Examiners for people seeking Substitute
Authorization. They include:

1) Classroom Management: participants will develop an understanding of individual and group
motivation and behavior that will enable them to create a learning environment that encourages
positive social interactions, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation

2) Strategies for Learning: participants will develop skills to use a variety of learning strategies
that encourage students'' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.

3) Diversity: participants will develop an understanding of how students differ in their
approaches to learning and will be able to create learning opportunities that are equitable and are
adaptable to diverse learners

4) Ethics: participants will develop an understanding of how to foster relationships with parents,
school colleagues, and organizations in the larger community to support students'' learning and
development and become aware of the Board''s Rules of Professional Practice and Code of Ethics

Full participation in all instructional sessions and completion of online instruction and
assignments are required for this course.

• This program is targeted especially for persons with an Associate''s Degree or higher or 60
  semester hours through a college or university.
• An individual who holds a paraeducator certificate without a degree and completes the
  Substitute Authorization course will be authorized to substitute ONLY in the special education
  classroom in which the individual paraeducator is employed full time for no more than five
  consecutive days and no more than 10 days in a 30-day period.