Illinois schools are facing a teacher shortage, with 3,864 unfilled positions across the state, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Central Illinois schools are also feeling the impact, with varying vacancy rates in districts such as Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign. Smaller districts like Athens, Pleasant Plains, Riverton, and New Berlin have zero unfilled positions, while Beardstown Community Unit School District has a 14.7% vacancy rate.
To address the shortage, many schools are using alternative measures such as hiring full-time substitutes, retirees, and increasing class sizes. Menard and Sangamon County reported relying on alternative methods to fill 53 teaching positions, while Macon and Piatt County reported 168 alternative fills. Additionally, some counties reported that less than 50% of teacher applicants held proper credentials.
The report highlights a need for recruiting and retaining qualified teachers, particularly in special education and English language and literature positions. Increasing the number of days retirees can substitute without impacting their retirement status and finding alternative certification methods are potential solutions to the shortage. The study predicts that the need for educators will only increase in the coming years.
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