State Senate Democrats hope to stop the teacher shortage by funding student teachers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — In a package of bills, Illinois Democrats hope to reduce the teacher shortage by empowering one particular group, students.

In most college education degrees, students in their senior year will spend time working as student teachers. Under university policy, however, these young educators cannot be paid.

This leads to students working 9-5 teacher jobs while finishing their degree. With tuition, fees, housing, food to pay with a tight weekly schedule unable to fit a second job, these young adults struggle to stay afloat without proper support.

The first step for the Senate Democrats is to remove the unpaid policy from all universities. This bill would not require any funding from the college to support student teachers or force the universities to create an additional policy. It would only repeal the current rule that student teachers cannot be paid.

"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 [young teachers] from getting started," state Sen. Adriane Johnson (D-Waukegan said.

In the second step, a different proposal would give a $10,000 stipend for every student teacher. The program would pay out to each student, prioritizing public universities. This policy could cost a total of $600 million, which if passed would be paid out by the FY2026 budget.

State Sen. Dave Koehler's (D-Peoria) district includes Bradley University and Illinois State University. Koehler said student teachers in his area are struggling without support.

"It's a hardship for students to take out loans and maybe don't have the family support to get them through this," Koehler said. "This is essential. If we're serious about solving the teacher shortage in our state then we have to support student teachers."

Both lawmakers hope supporting student teachers can help schools fill their classrooms. These proposals have received support from colleges and schools across Illinois.

Johnson's bill is on the Senate floor, waiting to be called. Koehler's bill is still in Senate committee, which could be called for a vote in the last weeks of session.