SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ governor has signed four pieces of legislation into law aimed at easing a shortage of teachers and classroom aides in public schools.
The new laws lower the fee to reinstate a lapsed teaching certificate, allow student teaching by college seniors, lower the minimum age for classroom aides and extend the number of days in a row a short-term substitute can fill in for one teacher.
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bills Wednesday during a ceremony at Springfield High School, just two blocks from the Capitol.
The Illinois State Board of Education estimates that there will be about 4,120 openings in public schools this fall.
