House Bill 4798 looks to fight teacher shortage with new plan

After the Illinois State Board of Education reported an increase in cases of college students substitute teaching on a temporary license, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel advanced a plan through the Senate that would expand the pool of substitute teachers.

Under Loughran Cappel’s measure, currently-enrolled Illinois students in the field of education who have at least 90 credit hours would be able to obtain a substitute teaching license. By giving them creditable hours for on-the-job-training, more students will be able to substitute teach and schools will have additional resources for finding temporary, short-term teachers.

House Bill 4798 is headed to the governor’s desk for approval.