Governor Signs Four Bills Aimed at Addressing Staffing Shortages
May 2, 2022
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On April 27, 2022, Governor Pritzker signed four bills into law as Public Act 102-0710, 102-0711, 102-0712, and 102-0713, which are aimed at addressing staffing shortages across the state by lowering various barriers to licensure for teachers and paraprofessionals.
Public Act 102-0710 lowers the fee to reinstate a lapsed Professional Educator License from $500 to $50 for applicants with a lapsed license and removes the fee entirely for retired teachers. This change is effective immediately.
Public Act 102-0711 recognizes a new education level to qualify for a Substitute Teaching License. An applicant can qualify if they are enrolled in an Illinois-approved educator preparation program and have earned at least 90 credit hours. This change is effective January 1, 2023.
Public Act 102-0712 increases the functionality of a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License, allowing those holding such licensure to teach up to 15 consecutive days (rather than 5) per licensed teacher under contract. Further, the law as amended provides that for teacher absences lasting 6 or more days per licensed teacher who is under contract; a school district may not hire an individual holding a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License unless the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency. This change is effective immediately, however, the Short-Term Substitute Teaching License provision of the Illinois School Code will sunset on June 30, 2023.
Public Act 102-0713 reduces the age requirement to be a paraprofessional educator from 19 to 18, so long as an 18-year-old will be using the Educator License with Stipulations exclusively for grades kindergarten through grade 8 until they turn 19 and otherwise meet the criteria for paraprofessional educator endorsement under the Illinois School Code. This change is effective January 1, 2023.
Please contact any Robbins Schwartz attorney if you have questions about these new laws.
