Illinois Raises Teacher Minimum Salary, Works to End Teacher Shortage

Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a series of bills into law to address the state's teacher shortage. According to the governor's office press release, "the bills will simplify the licensing process for educators, lower licensing fees, and create more opportunities for prospective educators."

The legislative package:

• Raises the minimum salary for teachers to $40,000 a year
• Increases funding for the Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program by 120 percent
• Adds $200 million to early childhood education workforce development programs
• Reduces fees for renewing lapsed educator licenses 
• Changes the minimum age for paraprofessional educators from 19 to 18 years old
• Allows currently enrolled teaching students the option to obtain a substitute teaching license if they have completed 90 credit hours
• Increases the consecutive days short-term substitute teachers can spend in the same classroom in the event of a disaster declaration