A new study has found that the Illinois teacher shortage has slowed and even improved in some areas. But the report released Thursday by the advocacy group Advance Illinois shows that gaps in critical areas such as special education remain. And racial diversity among school leaders lags far behind that of the state’s pupils.
FILE - Students keep social distance as they walk to their classroom, Sept. 3, 2020, in Highwood, Ill. The shortage of teachers in Illinois has slowed and even improved but gaps in critical areas such as special education remain and racial diversity among school leaders lags far behind that of the state’s pupils, according to a study released Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. SPRINGFIELD, Ill.
“This topic, this question of how is our workforce doing, do we have supply to meet demand is complex with trends and challenges varying from position to position,” Ann Whalen, Advance Illinois deputy director of policy, said in introducing a panel discussion at City Club of Chicago, where the report was released.
“The paraprofessional today is experiencing, unfortunately, a structural problem in the economy where it’s, ‘Hey, I could go work at Walmart for $16 an hour,’” or get the same pay with more difficulties at a school district, said Illinois Rep. Carol Ammons, a Democrat from Urbana and member of the panel. “We’re making the decision for them when we don’t invest in a living wage for paraprofessionals.
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