Photo by Mikhail Nilov
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a new initiative aimed at alleviating chronic staff shortages across the state. His proposed Teacher Pipeline Grant Program would give $70 million per year over the next three years to 170 school districts with the most needs and teacher vacancies, Pritzker said at a news conference Friday at Streamwood High School.
Those districts represent 80% of the unfilled teaching positions in the state. Filling them would improve the student-teacher ratio for over 871,000 students, Pritzker said.
“When it comes to our kids, we can always do more. And when it comes to our schools, that means not just more funding, but more resources — and most crucially, more educators,” Pritzker said. “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 well-being.”
Pritzker said he wants to bring in new teachers while retaining the current workforce.
“Districts all across Illinois are already using innovative ways to bring people into this profession,” he said. “And we want to help them pay for it and expand what already works.”
Upon legislative approval, the teacher pipeline program would allow districts flexibility in how they use the funds, such as offering signing bonuses, housing stipends, down-payment assistance or loan repayments. The money can also be directed toward paying tuition and fees or providing residencies or apprenticeships, as well as sustaining current teachers by providing materials, supplies, coaching and school culture supports.