Newsom Signs Order to Provide School Staffing Flexibility

Amid the national surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to provide staffing flexibility for schools to support continued safe in-person instruction. The governor’s order supports schools to maintain safe and orderly operations by lowering state barriers that delay the hire of qualified short-term substitute teachers.

“Schools nationwide returning from winter break are experiencing short-term staffing shortages that are putting a strain on operations,” said Newsom. “We’re working closely with local education officials to cut red tape to allow qualified substitute teachers to help maintain safe learning environments. We are grateful for the thousands of dedicated teachers, classified staff and administrators who have worked tirelessly to provide safe learning environments for all of California’s students.”

This order permits substitute teachers to have their assignments extended, provides additional flexibility to support retired teachers who have returned to the classroom and eliminates barriers that may prevent additional retired teachers from returning. The flexibilities provided under the order expire on March 31, 2022 and are only available to schools that show those flexibilities will support in-person services for students despite staffing shortages caused by the surge in COVID cases. This order expands and improves on previous orders, N-12-21 and N-25-20.