The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has released new findings from the second year of its Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program, showing continued progress in reducing teacher shortages statewide.
In partnership with the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC), ISBE published the year-two results on November 24th. The report highlights ongoing decreases in teacher vacancies and improvements in both recruitment and retention efforts across the 170 Illinois school districts with the most acute staffing shortages.
These districts serve about 870,000 students—roughly half of the state’s total student enrollment.
During the 2024-25 school year, participating districts hired 12,434 new teachers and retained 15,988 teachers from 2023 through 2025 as part of the second year of this three-year initiative.
The evaluation, conducted by IWERC at the University of Illinois, builds on the first year’s findings with more comprehensive data and advanced analytical approaches. Researchers assessed the program’s early impact on district staffing, taking into account differences in district size, funding, and location.
According to ISBE, the number of unfilled teaching positions decreased in both rural and urban districts participating in the grant program, while non-participating districts saw vacancies increase. Participating districts reduced their vacant positions more significantly, on average, than those not involved in the grant between school years 2023 and 2025.
“Teacher shortages are a highly localized issue. The recruitment and retention challenges that a small rural district faces are unique when compared to those of not just large urban districts, but also other rural districts,” said IWERC Director Meg Bates. “This pilot program allowed districts flexibility to enact strategies that met their nuanced staffing needs, and what we have found is that those investments indirectly benefit Illinois teacher colleges and teachers themselves.”
Districts most commonly invested in staff credential development, professional learning opportunities, direct compensation for new and returning teachers, and enhanced recruitment practices.
Since July 2023, more than 23,000 school staff—including teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and support personnel—have participated in grant-funded programs. In School Year 25, 1,198 educators were working toward licensure, and 1,135 certified staff members were earning endorsements for positions in high-need areas.
ISBE noted that the greatest improvements were seen in larger, urban districts classified as Evidence-Based Funding Tier 1—those furthest from funding adequacy and most affected by chronic vacancies. These districts received higher average grant amounts, suggesting that targeted investments in high-need communities can accelerate progress.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly have allocated $45 million annually for the Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, with an additional $30 million appropriated for fiscal year 2026.