School districts across Illinois are still struggling to find qualified full-time and substitute teachers – but say recent changes approved by the General Assembly give them hope for better days ahead.
Those are some of the findings of a survey of school districts commissioned by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools: 79% of districts say they are still experiencing a teacher shortage, with almost all of them saying the problem is as bad or worse than last year. And 92% cannot find enough substitute teachers.
The association says changes to expand the pool of substitute teachers will help, but also calls on lawmakers to provide more incentives for young people to enter the teaching field.
