Statement on ISBE’s Recommendations to Address Teacher Shortage

Statement submitted on behalf of the Teachers for Illinois’ Future Coalition10/18/2018

“The Teachers for Illinois’ Future coalition is committed to ensuring students statewide have access to the teachers needed to prepare them for their future. We are pleased that the Illinois State Board of Education linked funding for districts using the evidenced-based funding formula to finding a long-term solution to this challenge. While the State Board today approved drafted recommendations, we reiterate our statements at today’s meeting. We are in favor of making the ACT and SAT the only test of basic skills, but we urge ISBE to engage in broad stakeholder engagement when it comes to deciding on the competencies teachers need on day one. The same stakeholder engagement, plus robust research is necessary as ISBE begins to propose statutory changes. We want neither systemic barriers to teachers of color nor loop-holes around rigorous training of teachers, wherever that training comes from. We must work together and remain focused on our goal: ensuring that our children have the qualified teachers they need on the first day they begin school, especially low-income students, students of color, and rural students.”

Signatories to the Statement

Advance Illinois
Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools
Berwyn South School District 100
Council of Chicago Area Deans of Education (CCADE)
East Saint Louis District 189
Equity First Superintendents
Faith Coalition for the Common Good
Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Northeastern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Roosevelt University
Stand for Children
Teach Plus