SHERRARD, Ill. — $2.6 million has been awarded to 20 Illinois schools throughout the News 8 viewing area to help with teacher recruitment and retention.
The money comes from Illinois's new Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program. 170 school districts across the state were chosen to participate, after being designated as some of the most understaffed in Illinois. Combined, those districts serve approximately 870,000 students.
The program provides funding, for three years, to help with teacher recruitment, licensing for current educators and the retention of a district's established staff members.
Since the program's inception in the 2023-24 school year, nearly 5,400 new teachers have been hired, and approximately 11,000 current educators have been retained, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.
The board also says in the program's first year, more than 51% of districts receiving grant funding saw a decrease in unfilled positions from school year 2022-23 to 2023-24. That's compared to only 17% of districts not receiving the grant.
$45 million state dollars were invested into the program. During the May 2024 vote to secure funding for Illinois's 2025 fiscal year budget, Governor J.B. Pritzker and lawmakers also approved another $45 million to continue the program.
Of the 170 school districts that were selected, 20 of them come from QCA counties. They'll each receive a multi-thousand dollar grant annually for three years.
- Bureau County
- DePue USD 103 - $109,328.80 annually
- Carroll County
- West Carroll CUSD 314 - $105,037.70 annually
- Hancock County
- Southeastern CUSD 337 - $109,328.80 annually
- Dallas ESD 327 - $100,746.60 annually
- Henry County
- Kewanee CUSD 229 - $117,911.00 annually
- Jo Daviess County
- Warren CUSD 205 - $100,746.60 annually
- Knox County
- Galesburg CUSD 205 - $388,808.39 annually
- ROWVA CUSD 208 - $100,746.60 annually
- Lee County
- Amboy CUSD 272 - $92,164.40 annually
- McDonough County
- Macomb CUSD 185 - $109,328.80 annually
- Bushnell Prairie City CUSD 170 - $100,746.60 annually
- West Prairie CUSD 103 - $100,746.60 annually
- Mercer County
- Mercer County School District 404 - $109,328.80 annually
- Ogle County
- Rochelle CCSD 231 - $100,746.60 annually
- Rock Island County
- Sherrard CUSD 200 - $92,164.40 annually
- Stephenson County
- Freeport SD 145 - $388,808.39 annually
- Dakota CUSD 201 - $123,060.32 annually
- Lena Winslow CUSD 202 - $109,328.80 annually
- Whiteside County
- Morrison CUSD 6 - $96,455.50 annually
- Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD3 - $92,164.40 annually
Dr. Carl Johnson, superintendent of the Sherrard School District, joined News 8 on The Current to discuss the program's impact on his district. Sherrard is now in its second year of the pilot program and says it's making a difference with recruitment and retention.
Johnson explained that not only has the pool of possible applicants shrunk significantly over the last few decades, but being so close to the Quad Cities creates difficulties with recruiting staff who could work for higher wages in the metro.
The district is using its $92,000 of annual funds to double its tuition reimbursement program for teachers pursuing further education.
"I was pretty thrilled, I'll be honest… When you look at how much it costs to get the degree and what they’re going to pay you to be a teacher, the math says it’s a good deal," Joe Veronda, a Junior High history teacher said.
"We're going to create pathways so that people who are not teacher-certified can pursue a master's degree for alternative certification,” Johnson said.
Part of it also goes into a fund for 'attendance incentives' to keep teachers' morale high, and the district is now able to give new teachers a $250-$300 booster club stipend, so they can grab some Sherrard spirit wear.
"I have no money, so I think it's awesome. I can't go out and buy new clothes, so this is great," Madison Elliott, a third grade teacher at Winola Elementary said. She also noted that the attendance incentives have been a welcome addition, saying, "They’re acknowledging the fact that I’m here every day, which is nice. I love what I do because I feel thankful. I’m grateful."
Johnson also says the grant is being used to establish a mentoring program to support veteran teachers and new hires. This program will be modeled after the Illinois State Board of Education's guidelines.
You can watch his full interview on The Current in the above video.
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