State Senator Mike Halpin’s bill to allow retired teachers to work additional paid hours as substitutes in order to address the statewide teacher shortage passed committee Tuesday.

“Illinois schools need more teachers and more substitute teachers. Allowing retired teachers to continue to work more substitution hours gives the support our education system needs,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “If we are going to solve the teacher shortage we will need creative solutions, this legislation represents one of them.”

Senate Bill 2953 would extend the sunset of a provision that allows retired teachers to work up to 120 days or 600 paid hours as a substitute teacher without impacting their retirement status – in turn addressing the substitute teacher shortage across the state.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, 87% of schools surveyed said they have a teacher shortage problem and 91% are struggling to fill substitute teacher openings.

“Substitute teachers represent an important part of our education system, every school in every district needs them,” said Halpin. “We need to make sure the state isn’t standing in their way to do good work.”

Senate Bill 2953 passed the Education committee Tuesday and awaits further consideration.

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Sean Leary Director of Digital Media

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.