summary
Introduced
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
In Committee
02/10/2026
02/10/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the School Code. Establishes within the State Board of Education the shortage differential salary incentive program to support licensed teachers who provide instruction in special education and hard-to-staff locations. Sets forth the various shortage differential grants under the program based on specified criteria. Provides that teachers who receive an annual shortage differential grant for being assigned to a position in a hard-to-staff location shall be assigned to a position in: (1) a complex area identified as a hard-to-staff location by a school district; (2) a complex area whose rate of teachers who have completed a State-approved educator preparation program has been below this State's average rate of teachers who have completed a State-approved educator preparation program for the last 3 years; (3) a geographically isolated complex area; or (4) a complex area whose combined number of vacant teaching positions and emergency hires was higher than 10% in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a shortage differential salary incentive program within the State Board of Education to provide financial support to licensed teachers working in special education or in hard-to-staff locations. The program offers various annual grants, including $10,000 for special education teachers with a Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations, and tiered grants ranging from $3,000 to $7,500 for teachers in hard-to-staff locations based on how many of four specific criteria the location meets. These criteria for hard-to-staff locations include being identified as such by a school district, having a lower rate of teachers who completed a State-approved educator preparation program than the state average for the past three years, being geographically isolated (defined as more than 25 miles from an urban center), or having a combined rate of vacant teaching positions and emergency hires exceeding 10% in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee (on 02/10/2026)
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