HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — On Tuesday, Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order allowing more flexibility in hiring short-term substitute teachers.

It allows Dr. Miguel Cardona, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Education, to suspend the statutory requirement that local school districts request and receive a waiver from the commissioner to hire short-term subs who do not have a bachelor’s degree. 

It comes as a part of Lamont’s push for people to volunteer and get involved in the “Step Up Connecticut” initiative.

“Compared to all my neighboring states, your child is more likely to have an opportunity for in class education than just about anywhere else in the northeast,” Lamont said.

Since the initiative, he said hundreds of young people and adults have signed up to volunteer through the program.

Since the call to action, Cheshire High School has seen 35 former students volunteer to help.

“We are doing everything in our power to have those children in and have adults work with them and these wonderful college students,” said Fran Rabinowitz, Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. “I can’t tell you what a difference it makes in a child’s life to have an adult especially assigned to them.”

Lamont said more help is needed. Those interested can sign up online.