Metro East Sun

Teachers are in short supply across the country and in the state, and Illinois legislators are trying to lessen the problem.

State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) and other Democrats have introduced bills that may provide some relief.

Turner said that a proposed bill would look to rectify the teacher shortage.

“I hope this bill alleviates some of the educational stress around our classrooms,” she said. “I am hopeful we can continue to work together on this common-sense solution that ensures the children of Illinois retain their access to a high quality public education.”

Turner is spearheading Senate Bill 3907,  which would provide interested people with the ability to teach 15 consecutive days with a short-term substitute teaching license, along with giving school districts the ability to hire short-term substitutes should a regular teacher be absent for six days or more “during a public health emergency,” according to the Illinois General Assembly website.  

“Advancing this bill will mean that schools across the state will have  an easier time finding a well-qualified substitute to stand in their  place,” said Turner. “The pandemic has caused many aspects of our society to adapt – especially our schools.”

During 2021, the Illinois State Board of Education found a total of 4,120.7 unfilled teacher positions throughout the state.

The Illinois General Assembly reported that Sen. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) co-sponsored the law, which would also let retired school teachers come back to the profession without it impacting their pensions and payments.

“Teachers across the state are being asked to sacrifice our planning time in order to sub for a different class,” Courtney Goss, a  Springfield teacher, said. “This bill will help us reclaim our valuable planning time so we can focus on our students during this difficult time.”