Gov. Pritzker Highlights New Teacher Pipeline Initiative to Address
Shortages
Initiative will address chronic shortages in the
state’s most understaffed districts
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[March 04, 2023]
SPRINGFIELD — On Friday, Governor JB Pritzker visited Streamwood High
School in Elgin to highlight a new teacher pipeline initiative aimed at
addressing chronic shortages in the state’s most understaffed districts.
The proposed Teacher Pipeline Grant Program will direct $70 million per
year over the next three years to the 170 school districts with the
greatest need to fill teaching positions.
“When it comes to our kids, we can always do more. And when that comes
to our schools, that means not just more funding, but more resources —
and most crucially, more educators,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “All
across the nation, school districts are fighting the impact of teacher
shortages — as education professionals struggle to weigh their passion
for their classrooms with their own mental, financial, and personal
wellbeing. So as part of my education investment plan, I’m proposing an
additional $70 million annually specifically targeted at addressing
teacher shortages.”
Governor Pritzker was joined by, Dr. Tony Sanders, who began his tenure
as state superintendent on Feb. 23. He previously served as the
superintendent of School District U-46, which is based in Elgin and is
the second largest school district in Illinois, for nearly a decade.
Under the leadership of Dr. Sanders, U-46 launched its Horizons4U
program last spring, allowing employees who already work for the
district to pursue a career in teaching and several other professions.
Horizons4U is a collaborative effort between neighboring universities
and colleges in which U-46 covers the tuition cost, and participants
pledge to continue working at U-46 for at least five years under their
new credentials. U-46 offers similar tuition benefits to current U-46
teachers who earn their Bilingual/English as a Second Language
endorsement through a special cohort with Northern Illinois University.
“From the cradle to college, we put children first in Illinois,” said
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “That is why our state is investing in
plans that will address the teacher shortage by supporting our most
strained and understaffed districts, so our children and their teachers
can thrive together in the classroom. We recognize how valuable
educators are to the future of our state, and this initiative uplifts
their needs to do the critical work of raising up the next generation."
“The best investment we can make in our schools is in our teachers,”
said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “The experience
of teaching is incredible. It’s not teaching itself that’s causing a
teacher shortage; it is the systemic inequities present in our most
under-resourced districts. The Teacher Pipeline Grant Program provides
these districts with the resources they need to solve local challenges
to recruitment and retention and remove barriers preventing aspiring
educators from pursuing the calling to teach.”
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“It is important for students to see themselves reflected in their
teachers by their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation,
socio-economic status or by other relevant identifiers. As a former
social worker, I know firsthand that students come to school with a wide
array of different struggles, and having teachers who can relate through
lived experiences can improve our children’s education experience,” said
State Senator Karina Villa (D- West Chicago). “I believe this teacher
pipeline is a great first step to ensuring every child is represented
and supported by the staff who teaches and uplifts them.”
"As a former teacher and a parent of school-aged children, I know that
an investment in the teacher pipeline is an investment in the academic
success and wellbeing of students across the state," said State Rep.
Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia). "This funding will put Illinois on the
right path to rebuild its teacher workforce and therefore provide our
children with the high quality education they deserve."
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“Giving school districts with high teacher vacancy rates the ability
to develop innovative programs that attract and retain high quality
educators is one important way to address our state’s teacher
shortage,” said State Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin). “This program and
our upcoming budget negotiations are part of our broader efforts to
ensuring that we are providing every student with a great
education.”
“This topic is very important, not only to our
members who see the effects of the education employee shortage every
day, but to the students they work with and the parents they partner
with. We have helped institute the EdRising program in Illinois,
which helps middle and high schools students with an interest in
teaching pursue those dreams, and helped start a virtual coaching
and mentoring program that pairs new teachers with veterans in hopes
of keeping them in our classrooms,” said Kathi Griffin, president of
the Illinois Education Association. “But nothing makes working in
schools more attractive than respect. As our State of Education in
Illinois poll results released yesterday indicate, Illinoisans said
teachers are “underpaid, dedicated, good and hardworking” when asked
to give a one-word description. It is this kind of respect we hope
doesn’t get drowned out by a vocal few. Illinoisans overwhelmingly
believe in our teachers and respect them, much like every other
country in the world, who know that teachers help shape our future.”
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"I was proud to stand with Governor Pritzker today and help promote
his proposed Teacher Pipeline Grant Program. Once again, the
governor is demonstrating his commitment to Illinois' students and
educators," said Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan
Montgomery. "The teacher and school staff shortage is dramatically
impacting our school communities, and we applaud the governor for
addressing the issue. We look forward to working with him to help
pass and implement this program to help districts with the most
severe shortages attract and retain teachers, and working
collaboratively on additional long-term solutions like improving
teacher retirement benefits and providing support for educators of
color."
The Teacher Pipeline Grant Program will allow districts maximum
flexibility to use the funds in innovative, creative, and
evidenced-based ways, such as offering signing bonuses, housing
stipends, down-payment assistance, or loan repayments; paying
tuition and fees or providing residencies or apprenticeships; and
sustaining current teachers by providing materials, supplies,
coaching, and school culture supports.
ISBE will also utilize $6 million in federal funds to procure a
multimedia advertising and marketing firm to develop and implement a
statewide teacher recruitment campaign.
The teacher pipeline initiative builds on Illinois’ nation-leading
efforts over the past four years to strengthen educator recruitment
and retention. Illinois’ teacher pipeline programs have helped
Illinois buck national teacher shortage trends – adding more
teachers to the profession, increasing teacher retention, and
increasing enrollment in educator preparation programs steadily over
the past four years.
However, teacher shortage data recently released by ISBE show that
Illinois schools reported 3,558 unfilled teaching positions as of
October 2022; these unfilled teaching positions are concentrated in
high-need subjects and in under-resourced schools. The vacancies in
the 170 districts targeted for the Teacher Pipeline Grant Program
account for 80 percent of all unfilled teaching positions and affect
870,000 students.
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