The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has announced promising early results from the state’s $45 million Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program, launched in the 2023-24 school year.
Targeting 170 of the most understaffed districts, the initiative has led to the hiring of 5,400 new full-time teachers and retained approximately 11,000 educators so far.
These districts collectively serve 870,000 students and have been empowered to implement locally tailored strategies to tackle their specific challenges in recruiting and retaining teachers.
The program supports diverse approaches, including financial incentives, professional development, tuition support for licensure, and efforts to reduce teacher attrition.
Over 51% of districts receiving the grant saw a decrease in unfilled teaching positions compared to just 17% of districts that did not receive the funding.
In addition, approximately 1,500 non-certified staff are now pursuing licensure, and 450 certified staff are working toward further endorsements.
Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly have extended funding for the program into fiscal year 2025, ensuring that these districts can continue implementing long-term strategies for building a stronger teacher workforce.
The Teacher Vacancy Grant is a cornerstone of ISBE’s broader effort to address the statewide teacher shortage, alongside initiatives like the Career and Technical Education Pathway Grants and the "The Answer is Teaching" marketing campaign, which has generated over 5,000 inquiries from prospective educators.
