The News-Gazette highlighted area school district difficulties in filling substitute teacher positions as well as some of the changes at the State and local level. From today's paper:
Area districts finding there's no substitute for reliable replacement teachers
...
This past summer, the state passed legislation to address those shortages. Among other things, it:
— Provides reciprocity for comparable and valid educator licenses from other states, making it easier for out-of-state applicants to teach in Illinois.
— Creates a short-term license so people who have an associate degree or have earned at least 60 hours toward a degree from an accredited institution of higher education can sub.
— Allows teachers with lapsed professional educator's licenses to qualify for a substitute-teaching license.
— Increases the number of days retired teachers can work from 100 to 120 without jeopardizing their pension benefits.
"Those are big changes, and we want to promote them so we can increase our pool," said Hoopeston Area Superintendent Suzi Hesser. "We'll take them whether they have a bachelor's degree or an associate degree, as long as they will be effective with our students."
This year, several districts increased their daily base pay for substitute teachers to be more competitive. They include DeLand-Weldon, Fisher and Villa Grove, whose rates went from $80 to $90, and Mahomet-Seymour, whose base went from $90 to $100, making it one of eight districts in Champaign, Douglas, Ford, Piatt and Vermilion counties to offer $100 or more.
More at the full article here, including a closer look at two balanced-calendar schools and Urbana's substitute teacher situation.
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