By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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SPRINGFIELD — More than three-quarters of school districts across Illinois say the statewide teacher shortage is worsening, a problem exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools in partnership with Goshen Education Consulting released its annual teacher shortage survey on Tuesday. Among the survey’s findings: 88% of school district leaders say they have a teacher shortage problem and 77% said the problem is worsening.
“Our schools need help, now more than ever,” Mark Klaisner, president of the association, said in a news release. “For five years of our study, we have shown how schools are struggling to find qualified teachers and are under tremendous stress to provide the best education possible while understaffed and overwhelmed. COVID-19 has only made those challenges worse.”
The survey received responses from 663 of the state’s 1,070 districts. It showed that there were 2,040 teaching positions across the state that were either unfilled or occupied by someone not fully qualified for the role. That number is more than double the previous year’s survey.
There were also 412 classes canceled in 2021 because of teacher shortages and 385 classes moved online because no one was available to teach in person.
“We hope these new results will emphasize the urgency we all feel to find more dedicated educators who see the wonderful value of helping our children learn and grow, and to take on this difficult and multifaceted problem with a renewed focus and passion,” Klaisner said. “Every child in Illinois deserves a high-quality education and teachers who will help put them on their path to lifelong success.”
About 93% of school districts said they expect the shortage to be worse in 2023 and 2024, and 96% reported issues finding substitute teachers.
This is the fifth year of the teacher shortage survey. When it debuted in 2017, 77% of schools reported a shortage issue and 95% said they struggled to find substitute teachers.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.