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Illinois is dealing with a shortage of teachers, and now the possibility of educators retiring rather than going back into the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Illinois State Board of Education reports of the state’s 850 school districts, over 500 will be offering in-class instruction this fall. That involves over 600,000 students.
Rocky Joyner, an actuary with the Segal Consulting firm, said in-class instruction raises many questions in terms of liability.
“Will COVID be a teaching disability that is automatic, or that has started in some states, will there be laws adopted that limit employer liability for their employees that have been exposed to COVID?” said Joyner.
The question arises if there is a surge in teacher retirements, who will replace them? Illinois had the 8th highest decrease in students entering education programs in college. Dan Doonan, executive director of the National Institute on Retirement, said states may have to take action to replenish the pool.
“Young people are no longer looking to go into education at the rate they used to, and it looks like some states are responding by opening up more alternative pathways to become certified,” Doonan said.
Not to mention signing up for a job that could physically harm you for life right now or even get you killed probably isn’t a great selling point for recruiters.
…Adding… From Alan Mather, the president of the Golden Apple Foundation…
Hey Rich,
I saw your post about the teacher shortage on Capitol Fax and wanted to share my perspective as a former teacher and principal, and from my current work as President of Golden Apple.
First, we can’t relent on resolving the teacher crisis in Illinois because it’s hurting students across the state who need our help the most. Fortunately, we have a Governor and many members of the legislature, such as State Sen. Andy Manar, who recognize this and took action before the pandemic to provide additional state funding for our very successful state-wide Scholars program as well as our new Accelerators program, which focuses on resolving teacher shortages facing southern, western and central Illinois by recruiting college seniors and career changers not currently on a teaching path. And, the demand for these programs is significant, demonstrating that there is indeed interest in choosing teaching as a career - for example, in year one of the Accelerators program, 300 individuals applied for 50 available seats.
The key to helping those who want to pursue a career in teaching includes removing logistical and cost barriers that exist for them and for many that include mentoring necessary to keep people in teaching. We address these challenges in our programs and are hopeful that we will add hundreds more teachers to our classrooms over the next few years.
Teach Golden,
Alan
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 11:10 am
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At the same time, Illinois desperately needs to reform it’s alternative pathways to getting a teacher’s license: the current one is a complicated and onerous nightmare which, if not designed to discourage people from entering the profession, might as well be. New Jersey has a good model https://www.teachercertificationdegrees.com/certification/new-jersey-alternative/
Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 11:15 am
We keep talking abut COVID based on mortality numbers.
The hidden problem is the long term health problems. The virus attacks the organs, so you ay be seeing heart problems and other health problems from this down the road. Its not just a question of is it fatal, its a question also about shortening life spans or creating quality of life problems later.
Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 11:16 am
An added twist to the teacher shortage. How do teaching students do class observations and student teaching. How do they get certified? Do they lose a year?
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 11:23 am
“Not to mention signing up for a job that could physically harm you for life right now or even get you killed probably isn’t a great selling point for recruiters.”
Somewhere, an overworked recruiter for a Police Department is saying, “meh.”
Comment by Miso Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 11:29 am
Years ago like say 50-60, didn’t Illinois offer a state teacher scholarship to address the shortage of teachers due to the Baby Boom era? And isn’t that the reason state universities expand to prepare teachers? And am I the only one where I see history repeating itself?
Comment by bogey golfer Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 11:45 am
Plenty of new teachers graduating each year from schools in the southern section of the state. Where “exactly” is this shortage?
Comment by swILL Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 11:53 am
Bogey golfer has it right.
Attitudes toward teacher pay and benefits have softened thanks to Covid, which is a sad statement. But, compensation, benefits, and working conditions are what attract people to industries and retain them. Uncertainty does not.
=At the same time, Illinois desperately needs to reform it’s alternative pathways to getting a teacher’s license:=
Yes, as in get rid of it. I left the private sector to become a teacher. I followed the traditional process. Given my background, I was willing to hire others that came from a non teaching background. That turned out to be a mistake. There is no substitute for quality teacher training. Most alternative processes shortchange teacher training. I had one out of almost three dozen make it.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 11:57 am
Easing alternative routes to certification does nothing to address the issue of why fewer people are interested in teaching as a profession - low pay and little to no respect by many parents and much of society.
Comment by tea_and_honey Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 12:06 pm
We’re nearing the 100 year anniversary of the first documented teacher shortage. Can’t wait for the party.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022379344&view=1up&seq=13
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 12:11 pm
‘ Plenty of new teachers graduating each year from schools in the southern section of the state. Where “exactly” is this shortage?’
‘ who will replace them? Illinois had the 8th highest decrease in students entering education programs in college. ’
The statistics do not support your assertion.
Comment by Morty Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 12:29 pm
==Somewhere, an overworked recruiter for a Police Department is saying, “meh.”==
Downstate Police
“A Tier 2 officer is eligible for retirement benefits at age 55 upon attainment of 10 years of service.”
Teachers
“Tier 2 requires teachers and administrators to be 67 years old and have accumulated at least 10 years of service credit in order to qualify for nonreduced benefits that a member has earned.”
I am not involved in it but have heard that 67 is not much of an incentive.
Comment by Bigtwich Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 12:35 pm
==alternative pathways to getting a teacher’s license==
To borrow from the old saying, “You get what you train (and are willing to pay) for.” Those residents who live outside the collar counties and cannot get (or retain) teachers need to look in the mirror.
Comment by Jocko Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 12:52 pm
Bigtwich has it right.
Many reasons why I am glad I am retired. One is having to evaluate a tier 2 kindergarten or preschool teacher poorly because they can’t take 20-30 screaming kids (and their parents) at an age they already should have retired.
Not sure where all those southern Illinois teaching candidates have gone - certainly not up north.
Comment by Interim Retiree Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 1:05 pm
——Um, what does the Shakman decree have to do with a private company’s hiring?—-
The way to get around Shakman restrictions is to hire outside entity?
Comment by Surge voter Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 1:16 pm
==One is having to evaluate a tier 2 kindergarten or preschool teacher poorly because they can’t take 20-30 screaming kids (and their parents) at an age they already should have retired.==
Tier 2 started in 2011. Are you saying those Tier 2 teachers switched professions in their 40’s, only to retire with less than 9 years of teaching experience? I’ve got bad news for you: Even if they were Tier 1, their pensions would be paltry as well.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 1:33 pm
Somewhere, an overworked recruiter for a Police Department is saying, “meh.”
Anyone looking to become a law enforcement officer should be aware of the risks entailed.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 1:54 pm
- “The question arises if there is a surge in teacher retirements, who will replace them?“
Center Square has their horrible solution to an “if” situation that simply doesn’t exist. Center Square is advocating the hiring of unqualified people to teach our children to solve this hypothetical “if” emergency. All to save a few bucks for their devious sponsors.
Comment by Chicago 20 Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 2:01 pm
I was asked by my local district if I would be willing to teach, in case of a shortage of teachers. I told them I would be interested in talking to them if the need arose. I am older, but in good health, and could replace someone who has some type of pre-existing condition. Once the school year begins we will see what the needs are. There is a teacher shortage, and I do not see it getting better in the near future.
Comment by Retired Educator Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 2:07 pm
Tier 2 pensions can end up paying less then social security. Also, if they worked another job under social security, and get a tier 2 pension, their social security will be drastically reduced. Not a good future for their retirement.
Comment by DuPage Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 2:08 pm
There was a deliberate campaign to push out older experienced teachers because they earn too much and their pensions are too expensive (even though the state saves on Social Security because they don’t get it.)
Any teachers left were criticized , demonized, and forced to focus on mindless test-prep.
Now they’re complaining they can’t recruit anyone into the profession?
Please.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 2:11 pm
My cousin’s daughter in NE Florida resigned from her district on account of the everyone-is-back-into-the-classroom policy with no temp checks and no mask mandate except when entering the building (i.e. not in the halls, cafeteria or classroom).
She was not alone in her resignation.
Fortunately for her she was able to sign on with a remote-teaching organization.
Individual students’ parents can opt out their kids with some kind of remote scheme.
Now, the district is trying to staff elementary grades with uncertified substitutes just to get warm bodies in front of the class due to the extreme teacher shortage.
Comment by Hieronymus Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 3:10 pm
One of the reasons that young people quit entering the teaching profession in Illinois is that the legislature a few years back walloped the teacher retirement program. Low starting salaries for new teachers were offset by a decent retirement plan, but that decent retirement plan is gone now.
Comment by The Old Man Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 3:50 pm
“Plenty of new teachers graduating each year from schools in the southern section of the state. Where “exactly” is this shortage?”
Less than 40% of them will be teachers in Illinois after two years (at least for Illinois State University teacher grads). With Tier 2 they realize early, they cannot do this until age 67 for that pay and benefits.
Comment by Lurker Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 4:01 pm
“Plenty of new teachers graduating each year from schools in the southern section of the state. Where “exactly” is this shortage?”
The shortage largely affects cities in sheer numbers and rural areas by percentage. Advance Illinois has this tool to see where the shortages are: https://www.advanceillinois.org/datadesk-teachershortage/
The shortage is most severe in special and bilingual education.
We have historically had an oversupply of people certified in English, social studies, and elementary education, along with a dearth of candidates willing to relocate or work for small salaries. But now even these areas of oversupply are seeing plummeting enrollments at teacher prep programs.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 5:15 pm
Proud Papa Bear, thanks for the post and that is a nice site. Other than East St. Louis, the southwestern part of the state seems to be fine. Recent grads in Elem Ed, SS, English, and PE have had a tight market since the early 80’s, and I’ve met too many working retail who say they couldn’t find a teaching job.
Comment by swILL Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 8:52 pm
@TinyDancer(FKASue) - 100% accurate. And goes again to the old adage, “You get what you pay for.”
Comment by Need A Suggestion Monday, Aug 17, 20 @ 10:58 pm