(105 ILCS 5/2-3.198) Sec. 2-3.198. Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program. (a) Subject to appropriation, beginning in Fiscal Year 2024, the State Board of Education shall administer a 3-year Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program for the allocation of formula grant funds to school districts to support the reduction of unfilled teaching positions throughout the State. The State Board shall identify which districts are eligible to apply for a 3-year grant under this Section by reviewing the State Board's Fiscal Year 2023 annual unfilled teaching positions report to determine which districts designated as Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 under Section 18-8.15 have the greatest need for funds. Based on the National Center for Education Statistics locale classifications, 60% of eligible districts shall be rural districts and 40% of eligible districts shall be urban districts. Continued funding for the grant in Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026 is subject to appropriation. The State Board shall post, on its website, information about the grant program and the list of identified districts that are eligible to apply for a grant under this subsection. (b) A school district that is determined to be eligible for a grant under subsection (a) and that chooses to participate in the program must submit an application to the State Board that describes the relevant context for the need for teacher vacancy support, suspected causes of teacher vacancies in the district, and the district's plan in utilizing grant funds to reduce unfilled teaching positions throughout the district. If an eligible school district chooses not to participate in the program, the State Board shall identify a potential replacement district by using the same methodology described in subsection (a). (c) Grant funds awarded under this Section may be used for financial incentives to support the recruitment and hiring of teachers, programs and incentives to strengthen teacher pipelines, or investments to sustain teachers and reduce attrition among teachers. Grant funds shall be used only for the purposes outlined in the district's application to the State Board to reduce unfilled teaching positions. Grant funds shall not be used for any purposes not approved by the State Board. (d) A school district that receives grant funds under this Section shall submit an annual report to the State Board that includes, but is not limited to, a summary of all grant-funded activities implemented to reduce unfilled teaching positions, progress towards reducing unfilled teaching positions, the number of unfilled teaching positions in the district in the preceding fiscal year, the number of new teachers hired during the program, the teacher attrition rate, the number of individuals participating in any programs designed to reduce attrition, the number of teachers retained using support of the grant funds, participation in any strategic pathway programs created under the program, and the number of and participation in any new pathways into teaching positions created under the program. (e) No later than March 1, 2027, the State Board shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the efficacy of the pilot program that includes a summary of the information received under subsection (d) and an overview of its activities to support grantees.(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.) |