SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WREX) —�The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) allocated $4.3 million in state funding for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Education Career Pathway Grants.
This is the fourth round of funding for this program, which has awarded a total of $5.6 million so far.
The grants have benefitted nearly 12,000 Illinois high school students across 212 school districts and three community colleges.
This Illinois grant helps current high school students explore teaching careers.
It aims to build a more diverse teaching workforce by providing participants with the skills and experiences needed to succeed in college teacher preparation programs.
This includes specialized classes, hands-on learning in schools, and opportunities to gain real-world experience.
“In Illinois, we’re investing in dynamic, locally designed career pathway programs to strengthen and diversify our teacher pipeline,� said Governor JB Pritzker. “I highly encourage school districts to apply to the CTE Education Pathway Grant program to inspire future educators to pursue a career in their hometown.�
“Teaching is not only a career; it's a calling,� said State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders. “Early teaching experiences can ignite the passion to pursue a career in education. It's essential for students to encounter the transformative magic of teaching firsthand to feel inspired. These grants not only provide that initial spark but also equip students with the skills, preparation, and clear pathways needed for successful entry into the teaching profession.�
The ISBE recently released data on unfilled teaching positions.
This data shows a positive trend of year-over-year growth in the number of teachers for the past seven years, including an increase from 2022 to 2023.
However, the demand for teachers has also grown, resulting in a shortage.
As of October 2023, Illinois school districts reported 4,096 unfilled teaching positions, a 15% increase compared to the previous year.
Research suggests that career pathways can be an effective tool to address teacher shortages.
These programs offer various entry points into the teaching profession, provide practical teaching experience, and can give aspiring teachers a head start on meeting licensure requirements through college credit or early career credentials.
The CTE Education Career Pathway Grant program is another initiative aimed at addressing teacher shortages in Illinois.
This program complements existing efforts like the Teacher Vacancy Grant program, which provided $45 million to 170 high-need districts for recruitment and retention.
The ISBE has a multi-pronged approach to strengthening the teacher pipeline.
This includes Educators Rising student groups, diversity recruitment plans for teacher prep programs, and affinity groups funded by federal dollars that achieved a 98% retention rate for educators of color.
Additionally, the state prioritizes programs that target rural districts, low-funding schools, high schools with high vacancy rates, and districts with significant diversity gaps between students and teachers.
Grants will be awarded for four years to support the design, implementation, and sustainability of CTE Education Career Pathway programs.
Proposals for the grant are due by 4:00 p.m. on May 3. Applicants can email questions to [email protected]
