Substitute Teaching at CSS

Are you are a caregiver, educator or student who is freelancing, or working part time? Substitute teaching could be a great fit for you! Experience with young children is required.

  • Pay is $16-19/hour
  • Paid orientation & paid CPR/First Aid training
  • Reimbursement for background checks
  • $100 bonus after your 3rd shift (for new subs in Spring 2022)

GET STARTED: Send your resume and a brief letter of interest to hiring@childrenscommunityschool.org. Once all clearances are underway, we will schedule you to attend a 1-hour orientation at the school.

Basic info about substitute teaching:

  • The Children’s Community School (CCS) is located at 1212 S. 47th Street in Southwest Philadelphia. We serve children ages 15 months – 5 years old and school hours are 8:00am-6:00pm. Learn more about our program and approach to education at http://www.childrenscommunityschool.org/.
  • Our sub rate is $16-19/hour. Subs are contracted workers and checks are sent by mail within one week of the dates worked. Payment for the 1-hour orientation is included on the first check after completing a substitute teaching shift. Payments are sent by mail every two weeks. Subs receive a bonus of $100 after completing their third sub shift (and all clearances received)!
  • Shifts are typically 8:00am-3:15pm (with paid lunch break) or 2:00-6:15pm; sometimes start or end times are flexible, or other shifts are needed.
  • Morning shifts are usually with a team of 1–3 other teachers in a single age group; afternoon shifts are usually with 1–2 other teachers in mixed age groups. Sometimes we are also looking for shifts helping with other things around the school, like making snack.
  • Sometimes we schedule subs days or weeks in advance; sometimes we are looking for folks the night before or the morning of! If you’re a last-minute kind of person or a schedule-ahead kind of person, we’d love to have you either way! We generally reach out by text message to schedule shifts.

Required Paperwork

The following documents must be in your file before we can schedule you for shifts. Photocopies or scans are okay. Clearances must have been acquired for work/non-volunteer purposes within the past 5 years.  This paperwork is required to work in any liscensed child care center in PA.  Save all your results for other employment opportunities.  Subs receive a bonus of $100 after completing their third sub shift (and all clearances received)!

  • Photo ID
  • Background Checks/Clearances (expires after 5 years)
    • FBI Fingerprinting: (found here) Use Code 1KG738, “Child Care Services Program Employee or Contractor.” Results are mailed, $25.25 fee. Schedule now—it can take time to get an appointment!
    • PA Background Check: (found here) Results delivered immediately, $22 fee. Click “submit a new record check,” then “accept,” then “individual request.” Print the certificate, not the response page!
    • PA Child Abuse Clearance: (found here). Results are mailed, $13 fee.
    • NSOR Clearance: (found here). Submit form to RA-PWNSOR@pa.gov. Results are mailed, no fee.
    • NOTE: If you have lived in another state in the past 5 years, Criminal Background check and State Child Abuse clearances from that state is also required. (resouce on obtaining out of state clearances available here)
  • Disclosure Statement: (found here) Sign and date once you have submitted all required clearances, detailed above.
  • Form W-9: (found here) Note that substitute teachers are 1099 contracted workers. No tax is retained from your payments. If are paid more than $600 in a calendar year, that information will be reported to the IRS, and you will need to report and pay tax on the income.
  • Child Care Staff Health Assessment Form per Physical Exam.  TB test does not expire/is not required on subsequent health assessment forms) YOU MAY NOT WORK WITH MISSING / EXPIRED  HEALTH ASSESSMENT FORM OR MISSING TB TEST RESULTS. No Exceptions.  USE THIS EXACT FORM. The state will not accept alternative forms from doctors.  If you have had a physical done within the last year, some doctors will fill out the Health Form based on a previous physical exam. (Health Assessment expires after 2 years)
  • Fire Safety Training (“DHS Fire Safety 2025”, free online) Must be done before the first day working with kids.  Click the link to view the course search page, search for the course titled “DHS Fire Safety 2025”.  Register / Login to Pa Keys.  Take Screenshot of Completion Page.  (Expires after 1 year)

Additional Paperwork—these are needed within 90 days of your first shift, but you can start working without them.

  • Résumé with childcare experience
  • 2 Letters of Reference: Two brief signed and dated letters from non-family members, confirming experience and/or qualities that make you suitable for childcare work
  • CPR/First Aid Certificate: Please submit a copy if you have it or sign up for a certification class.  We offer the certification at no cost to subs, yearly in August. (expires after 2 years)
  • Mandated Reporter Training Certificate of Completion (3 hours) (Expires after 5 years)
  • PA Required Health and Safety for Centers-Group Child Care Part 1 2025 (3 hours)  Click the link to Register / Login to Better Kid Care.  Click the link again or search the class title. (No expiration)
  • PA Required Health and Safety for Centers-Group Child Care Part 2 2025 (3 hours) Click the link to Register / Login to Better Kid Care.  Click the link again or search the class title. (No expiration)