SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Student teachers in Illinois now have more opportunities to be paid for their work.
A new state law bans public universities from enforcing rules that block student teachers from being paid during their placement.
While the law does not require payment for student teachers, it eliminates longstanding prohibitions that block school districts colleges, and nonprofit organizations from providing stipends or wages.
"This is how we start solving the teacher shortage, not by asking people to do more with less, but by removing the structural obstacles that have stopped too many from getting started," said Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Waukegan).
House Bill 3528 passed out of the Senate on a 56-2 vote and received unanimous support in the House. The new law took effect last month.
"This law is about fairness and flexibility," Johnson said. "By removing outdated barriers, we empower schools and teacher preparation programs to offer support that better reflects the demands placed on student teachers and helps diversify our education workforce."
The Illinois Senate failed to pass a separate plan this spring to require the State Board of Education to distribute a stipend of up to $10,000 per semester for student teachers. Advocates estimated the stipend program could cost $68 million, but sponsors only asked for $10 million to start the program.
"The student teacher program requires them to pretty much have an internship that is unpaid. Most of the time, it is equivalent to a full-time job," Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) said. "They deserve a little bit of money to be able to sustain themselves."
House Bill 1375 passed out of the House on a 78-23 vote April 7. The legislation has four Democratic sponsors in the Senate, but the plan is locked in the chamber's assignments committee.
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