Legislature Attempts to Address Employee Shortage Issues
The legislature sent to the Governor's desk several bills to attempt to address the teacher shortage. Among them:
HB 423 Makes the provisions removing the requirement of passage of a test of basic skills applicable until June 30, 2025, and removes the provision requiring a candidate in a teacher preparation program to receive a letter grade of at least a "C", or its equivalent, in his or her student teaching program to obtain the license.
HB 2121 Restores the prohibition on school bus driver licensure of applicants who have been convicted of specified offenses under the Wrongs to Children Act, the Criminal Code of 2012, the Liquor Control Act of 1934, and the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act. Removes language providing that an applicant for a school bus driver permit may not have been convicted of committing or attempting to commit a misdemeanor offense defined in specified Sections of the Cannabis Control Act within the last 20 years. Provides instead that an applicant must not have been convicted of committing or attempting to commit within the last 20 years specified Class A misdemeanors under the Cannabis Control Act.
PA 101-49 extends for two (2) years (until June 2021) the ability of a school to, after posting a position following a procedure with the Regional Office of Education to declare the position difficult to fill, fill a position for an entire year with a TRS annuitant without destroying that teacher's pension annuity.
It is unclear whether the unsigned bills will be signed, and it is also unclear whether any of the bills will assist schools in their search for qualified employees.