How many sick/personal days does a teacher get (on avg.) during a school yr & do they look bad for using them?

Question

I realize this may vary some from district to district. I am just looking for a general idea from your personal experience. Thank you!

Answer 1

At my school we get 15 sick days per year, with three personal days.

I don't think you look bad for using them. As long as you don't abuse them...having a history of calling in "only on Fridays" can make the principal get a little curious.

However, as long as you remain in the bounds of your contract, there's nothing anyone can do.

Oh yeah, they also accumulate from year to year, topping out at about 160 days.

Answer 2

Here is this district in CA, a teacher earns about one day per month. I don't know how the district views using those days, but the substitute teacher situation is not good in our district, they don't pay subs well and they receive little or no training, and there can be a shortage on some days and teachers have to sub on their conference periods, so your classroom could look like a battlefield when you return.

Answer 3

I'm not sure how many sick days you get, but most government jobs require that you accrue sick days -- for me it's something like 0.5 days for every 3 days worked. I do know however that you should use no more than 8 per year (and that may be pushing it without a doctor's note) as that's the industry standard. Any more than 8 days they may see you as unreliable and make it more difficult for you to progress in your career. This is considering that you do not have a serious illness however.

Answer 4

I get 15 total. The school would rather you use your sick days for you being sick. Otherwise the constant cycle of you and your classroom being infected isn't good for the better health of the entire school. Your personal days are your own. How you choose to use them is up to you. For me I don't have to use them all I can carry them over from year to year. Many of the teachers save them for when they have a baby. So they in return have a longer maternity time.

Answer 5

Our district gives us 15 sick days a year. I don't think it looks bad. They are given for a reason. If you are using them appropriately then it shouldn't matter.

Answer 6

I get 6 days a year. It doesn't look bad if you use them for the right reasons. If you or your family are really sick that much that is what the time is for. If you are calling in sick to take personal vacations that looks bad.