Two years ago we attempted a small change in Illinois teacher certification rule to improve alternative certification there. We had seen how bad the shortage was and wanted to help. We were shutdown by groups that wanted to keep things they way they were.
And of course now the Illinois teacher shortage is worse according to a recent Chalkbeat article “Solving Illinois’ Teacher Shortage“.
They get all the reasons right –
First – there is a 63% drop in educator preparation program enrollment since 2009 – that is STUNNING. Your regular programs are not getting it done yet you continue to fight against alternative certification.
And you have a problem with diversity in your teaching workforce and alternative certification is the number 1 way to increase diversity.
Illinois does not have the STEM teachers, the SPED teachers and is not doing anything to mitigate the crisis.
Hopefully, they will see that they need programs like Teachers of Tomorrow if they truly want every student to have a great teacher.
